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Between 26 and 27 July 2023, the first Ghana National Development Conference (NADEC) on the theme: "Moral Vision and National Development" was held at the Pentecost Convention Centre in Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region of Ghana.

Organised under the auspices of The Church of Pentecost (CoP), the Conference engaged a broad spectrum of Ghanaian society and leadership towards the development of a Moral Vision Plan to inform the nation’s development agenda, as deepening concerns were observed with respect to the degrading moral state of the nation and its consequent negative bearing on national development.

The Conference saw the participation of over 2,000 stakeholders including representatives of the various arms of government, politicians and political parties; traditional authorities; religious leaders and groups; representatives of Government Ministries and Offices (including some Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs)); security agencies; civil society organisations including Globethics Western Africa Centre (Accra); professional bodies, and the media among others. It was chaired by the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye.

The Conference began on 26 July with an opening ceremony which saw fraternal messages given by the President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), the President of the National House of Chiefs, the Chief Justice, the Speaker of Parliament and the two former Presidents of Ghana: their Excellencies, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama.

The Chairman of the Church of Pentecost gave an exhortation, noting that the purpose of the Church is the transformation of the nation, history invites all citizens as stakeholders to join in the conversation on national development, and righteousness exalts a nation.

The keynote address was given by the Vice President of Ghana, H.E. Mahamudu Bawumia (on behalf of the President of the Republic) to officially open the Conference.

During the Conference, eight speakers made presentations on various topics spanning moral vision, social justice, public support for resource mobilisation, raising effective politicians, the role of the media and patriotism in accordance with the overall theme. Participants were also invited to make their inputs in three plenary sessions in line with their understanding from the presentations, their envisioning for the Moral Vision Plan, lessons learnt for Ghana’s development, and their individual/institutional commitment by way of contribution to the development of the moral vision for the nation.

Beyond participation at the Conference, Susan Ackah, Globethics Western Africa Centre (Accra) Regional Manager, had the opportunity to be invited alongside representatives from the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) to support the Moral Vision Plan Committee in facilitating the plenary sessions and also in developing a communiqué from the Conference.

The communiqué was delivered by the Chairman of the Moral Vision Plan Committee towards the close of the conference. Among others, it spells out key observations, commitments and recommendations made by the Conference (participants) towards reversing the status quo.

The next steps include collaboration with the relevant stakeholders on developing the Moral Vision Plan and its adoption towards sustainable national development. Globethics Western Africa Centre (Accra) is proud to be associated with the process of public engagement and policy dialogue as part of our strategic focus on promoting inclusive peace and responsible governance through ethical leadership.

All photos credit: Ghana National Development Conference (NADEC)/Church of Pentecost Ghana