In order to hasten Ghana’s socioeconomic development, Professor Joseph Kofi Teye, Director of Research at the University of Ghana’s Office of Research, Innovation, and Development, has challenged national leaders to support leadership styles that combat neopatrimonialism.
Neopatrimonialism is a system where political leaders use public resources for their own gain; this usually results in a poorer nation and richer individuals.
State capture is what is happening here, and it is bad for socioeconomic growth.” “It may also result in projects of poor quality, he added.
At the Yilo State Homecoming Summit 2022, which was held in Somanya and had as its theme “Yilo Beyond Politics: Harnessing Our Development Potentials,” Professor Teye made this statement.
Regardless of individual political allegiances, it was intended to bring the inhabitants of Yilo territory together in order to advance the social and economic development of the Yilo state.
Prof. argued that practices like equity in resource distribution to people and communities should be supported and pushed for participation in development initiative planning, design, and implementation from both the ruling party and the opposition parties.
Additionally, he counseled against jeopardizing the civil service’s role because doing so might result in a decline in performance, noting, for instance, that the desire to appoint members of one political party to specific positions frequently led to overstaffing in various government agencies.
He continued, stressing the need to avoid the practice and instead work cooperatively to take advantage of business opportunities, “Some new governments may also transfer public officials associated with the previous regime to rural areas.”
In order to design community development projects like hospitals and police stations and to look into opportunities in fields like tourism, agriculture, trade, and industry, he advised the creation of sub-groups.
“Public-private partnerships and Build, Operate, and Transfer agreements are two ways that we can support development,” he added.
He pointed out that in several regions of northern Ghana, urban professionals made annual contributions of about GHS 1,000 to the development of their hometowns, which is very beneficial to fields like education and health.
The topic of the summit was chosen, according to Mr. Eric Tetteh, Chief Executive of Yilo Krobo Municipality, to inspire people to collaborate despite their political allegiances in order to better the Yilo state.
The Krobo Enclave is home to the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Meridian Hospital, and JVL-YKMA Recycling Plant, in addition to having mountains, a waterfall, limestone, and arable land for use by those employed in agriculture, the arts, crafts, and related trades.
Although the MCE referred to the region as a gateway to tourist destinations, it also observed that the wealth of the region did not keep up with the rate of social and economic development.
The inaugural summit was held in the multipurpose hall of UESD in Somanya and was attended by chiefs, queen mothers, elders, sons, and daughters of Yilo land.
In addition to a talk session on utilizing the untapped tourism, cultural, and agricultural potentials in the region, there were a number of cultural performances, including the Klama dance and a documentary show on Yilo Krobo’s tourist attractions.
There were also African clothing items, mango products, beaded key chains, beaded earrings, and beaded necklaces on display.