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President of Think Tank IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe has described the 40- year development plan launched by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as a ‘joke’. The development plan according to him is a laudable idea but believes it cannot be sustained until a medium term is achieved.

The plan, spanning a period of 40 years, is the first ever long-term development agenda Ghana has ever had. It will bind governments to a vision lasting till the country turns 100 years as an independent nation.

This is not the first time the NDPC has embarked on a national exercise to draw a blueprint for national development. In 1995, the NDC administration launched the Vision 2020 document that was put together by the NDPC hinged on science and technology and decentralization of public administration. President John Mahama at the launch of the development plan Tuesday said the plan will significantly transform Ghana.

Franklin Cudjoe speaking on Adom fm Wednesday, charged Ghanaians to rather hold politicians accountable, which to him would help in materializing the development plan. “Yes the development plan is a good idea, but how is it going to materialize if the people of this nation do not hold politicians accountable to their promises? “The best way to develop the country is to hold the politicians accountable.

We need to ask them how they will go about it and the budget involved else the plan will suffer a fate similar to what is already going on,” he said. He indicated that “other developed countries tried these development plans but because their citizens didn’t bother to find out the budget involved from these politicians, it didn’t work and so let’s do the right thing and stop this joke.”