The Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Marfo says the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda will be very instrumental in shaping the country’s progress after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the theme “Covid-19 and our match towards Ghana Beyond Aid: Turning adversity into opportunity”, the Senior Minister on Thursday noted that the policy should be devoid of partisan politics but rather encourage local participation.

According to him “what is important now is setting a system of implementation. It should not be reduced into another talking shop.

“We should not just be talking about it but we should find a way of getting these lofty ideas implemented and I am already discussing with some members of the leadership of parliament to get the matter cast in parliament.”

The Ghana Beyond Aid policy was introduced by the Akufo-Addo administration in 2017 with the aim of moving the country toward self-sufficiency.

The policy forms part of government’s agenda of pushing the country towards providing for its needs and engaging competitively with the rest of the world through trade and investment.

But at the focus of the Covid-19 and Ghana Beyond Aid forum was centered around stepping up public education about the virus in the country whilst mobilising the vast majority of Ghanaians towards achieving the much touted Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

Mr Osafo-Marfo indicated that this is the time for Ghana to be self-sufficient in certain specific production units.

“Health is not for debate. We must be inward looking. There must be import substitution which fit our own requirement as a country,” he stressed.

Also addressing the gathering, the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi who noted that the country has all what it takes to meet its basic needs should citizens and leaders be dedicated enough.

For, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Anthony Yaw Baah government should focus on transforming the structure of the economy from a low productivity informal sector to a high productivity formal sector.

The Managing Director of the Exim Bank, Ghana, Lawrence Agyinsam advised the country to move away from the westernization of our necessary supplies such as food and drugs.

Speaking on the overview of Ghana's Economic Development History and the role of aid, Kwame Pianim, a renowned economist pointed out that Ghana Beyond Aid is a clarion call to shift our attitude from business as usual.

He added that Covid-19 provides us with an opportunity to reset the button and harness our resources into building a better Ghana.