Ghanaian economist, investment banker and global business strategist, Dr Sam Ankrah, has urged fellow economists to build a new non-partisan professional relationship with the managers of the national resources.
Speaking at the Institute of Chartered Economists Ghana (ICEG)’s annual Economist Conference 2021, he said, economists must redefine the economic models and create systems.
According to him, to support the government or successive governments with the reform and revitalisation agenda, the community of economists and other related technical minds must change the modus operandi by evolving a new non-partisan professional relationship with the economic managers of the national resources.
“A system where regardless of one’s political leanings, we will be involved in the unearthing, analysing, promoting, and executing policy options in the following interrelated areas and also ensure that this important matter may not be subjected to the usual partisanship which helps no one but is bound to leave us more divided, deprived, and disillusioned, ” he said.
He said “We must redefine our economic models and create systems that speak to the African experience, resources, and opportunities. It must provide skills that enable a strong tri-partite relationship between academia, industry, and government.”
Dr Ankrah, who is also the president of the African Investment Group (AIG), urged economists to make a real impact in the new dispensation of Africa’s renewed energy for transformation.
“We must uphold collectively and solemnly, our shared values of honesty, transparency and be accountable to the people we represent. Our technical commentaries and critiques must be constructive and not favour one party’s administration over the other unless it is supported by the facts and figures,” he said.
He said “We have a greater responsibility to say and do what is right or say nothing at all if it cannot contribute towards the development of sound and actionable policy interventions to lift our country and people out of the vicious cycle of poverty. We are not politicians if I need to remind us all, me included and for that matter this august institution of ours, ICE-GHANA; which I proudly hold a fellowship must rise to the occasion.”
The lecture was held under the auspices of the Institute of Chartered Economists, and on the theme “Restoring Ghana’s macroeconomic stability and revitalisation: The Word becoming flesh”.
Other renowned speakers also addressed the conference.
The address came on the back of the current state of the economy and the continuous miss and hit of the state of Ghana’s economy since independence.