The CEO of the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation (GSMF) says there is a need for population to be considered when government is making long-term development plans.

Alex Banful believes this will give government to have a more specific outlook on developmental growth. 

Speaking on business leadership show the Executive Lounge, he said, “for you to get your real growth rate, you subtract your population growth rate from your GDP growth rate, and that is your actual growth”. 

Ghana’s population is projected to keep growing to around 50 or even 60 million people by 2050. Population issues are related to other topics, such as demography, economics, and urbanisation.

Mr Banful explained that the current growth rate is quite discouraging as “Ghana has a population growth rate of 2.5-2.8 percent and a GDP growth rate of 3.5 percent, subtract the growth rate from the GDP and you have only 1 percent." 

He said Ghana needs to at least grow at a 5-6 percent to make relevant progress in development.

Executive Lounge airs on every Staurday at 6 pm with a repeat on Sunday at 8 pm on MultiTV on the JOYNEWS channel and on DSTV channel 421.