Rival parties across the political divide yesterday agreed on the inclusion of all political parties on the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the formulation of a common development agenda for the country. The suggestion, which was made by the Chairman of the NDPC, Mr P. V. Obeng, received instant endorsement from Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Convention People's Party (CPP), respectively. Canvassing the view at a forum organised by the Institute for Progressive Research and Advocacy (IPRA), the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel and Joy FM in Accra yesterday, Mr Obeng said to ensure that long-term national development plans were sustained, all political parties should be allowed to "co-author and co-own" those long-term plans that would emanate from the commission. He condemned the lack of continuity of national programmes and projects, adding that "if all political parties are allowed to make inputs into the national agenda, even while outside office, those parties will readily continue from where others leave". Speaking on the topic, "Perspective on Building a National Development Agenda", Mr Obeng stated that such an all inclusive Commission would help eliminate areas of friction, pointing out that if the political parties had faith in such plans, they would defend and sustain them. Reacting to the suggestion, Dr Apraku described Mr Obeng's idea as an excellent one. He told the Daily Graphic that it was not the best" for the nation to go back and forth with its national development policy, adding that what was happening on the educational front should let every Ghanaian realise that there was a lack of national consensus. For his part, Dr Nduom, who is a former Chairman of the NDPC, agreed with Mr Obeng but went further to suggest that more could be achieved if the Commission was made independent under the Constitution, with equally independent and well-resourced personnel to come up with a well-prepared long-term development programme. At the forum, the Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Paul Asimenu, said there already existed a framework to ensure participation by all in national development, as contained in the Constitution under the Directive Principles of State Policy. He said there were antecedents to support that point and mentioned a policy dialogue in the 1990s which led to economic liberalisation, the introduction of the Peoples' Assembly concept, as well as the process by which annual budgets presented by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning had inputs from groups and individuals. In his contribution, Dr Kwaku A. Danso of the Ghana Leadership Council (GLU) defined national agenda as a "vision that sets a policy that benefits the greatest number of citizens, cuts across all boundaries of race, ethnicity and generations and that is seen to be selfless". He explained that the leadership of the nation was responsible for setting an agenda for the country through the vision statements usually crowded in speeches and party manifesto. Touching on the characteristics of a National Development Agenda, Dr Danso said it must be non-partisan in nature, long lasting, cut across all generations, set new standards, benefit the largest number or percentage of people and be seen as selfless. Source: Daily Graphic