The Ghana Priority Youth Forum has begun at the University of Cape Coast to solicit the views and expectations of Ghanaians concerning the country's development plan.

This will be under the theme; “The relevance of using data for policy decision making".

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) said political parties could design a manifesto that aligned with the long term objective of the country.

According to him, there was a high probability the agenda they pursue would be close to reality.

Dr Kojo Mensah Abrampah explained it was up to political parties to develop strategies that will enable them to implement what was outlined in their manifestoes.

He, however, indicated that the parties cannot be compelled to do this.

Dr Abrampah explained that the manifesto is an intention that must be probed based on relevance, feasibility, and also within a time frame.

He expressed content about the development trend of the country but stressed that though Ghana’s development was on course, there is the need to set the right priorities.

The Ghana Priority Project is a collaboration between Copenhagen Consensus Centre (CCC) and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).

The project seeks to provide government and the international donor community with systematic processes to help prioritise the most effective policy solutions and help Ghana accelerate the achievement of the national development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Copenhagen Consensus Centre is a global think-tank focused on using data for effective policy solutions through cost-benefit analysis.

Also at the forum, Coordinator of Ghana Priorities, CCC, Dr Ralph Nordjo said that the research project will explore the smallest solutions to help the nation.

The project covers themes ranging from poverty and health to education, infrastructure and gender equality, he explained.

Dr Nordjo said the project was started some 18 months ago by selecting more than 400 development intervention policies that were in line with the National Development Agenda and the SDGs.

He said 80 of such policies were selected by reference to a group of eminent academic and research experts based on the country's top priorities.

The youth forum is a follow up of the "Eminent Panel Conference" held earlier this year.