The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has urged Ghanaians to embrace greater productivity, discipline and respect for time as essential ingredients for the successful implementation of the country’s 24-hour economy.
The Commission said productivity should not be viewed merely as an expected outcome of the policy but as a fundamental requirement for its success.
Dr Nii Moi Thompson, Chairman of the NDPC, made the call at a public lecture in Accra, where he emphasised the need for efficient use of human, financial and material resources.
He said time was often overlooked as a critical resource, despite being the only resource that could not be recovered once lost.
“Time is money,” he said, urging public institutions and organisers of public events to develop a stronger culture of punctuality and effective time management.
Dr Thompson criticised the frequent delays in starting public programmes and the tendency to rely on prayer to ensure the success of events.
He said prayer had an important place in society but should complement, rather than replace, hard work, discipline and common sense.
“There is nothing wrong with prayer. Prayer is good. But prayer is not a substitute for discipline or hard work,” he said.
Dr Thompson said Ghana had considerable opportunities for national development but continued to face challenges partly due to a weak maintenance culture, poor work discipline and inefficient use of resources.
He cited the deteriorating condition of some roads and other public infrastructure as evidence of the need for greater responsibility in maintaining national assets.
“We should pray, but more than that, we should work harder. We should be disciplined and focused in whatever we choose to do,” he said.
The NDPC Chairman also paid tribute to the Civil Service, describing public servants as “guardians of development” who played a critical role in translating government policies into tangible outcomes.
He said the Civil Service supported policymakers in developing policies and was also responsible for their implementation, monitoring and, where resources permitted, evaluation.
Dr Thompson said civil servants deserved greater recognition for helping the Government to function effectively, even when implementation did not always produce the intended results.
He described the Civil Service as a reflection of the values and norms of society, while also possessing the capacity to influence and shape those values.
“This becomes a mutually reinforcing exercise in national development,” he said.
