I’d have preferred a more targeted approach to the National Economic Dialogue – Kofi Bentil

IMANI Africa’s Vice President, Kofi Bentil, has called for a more structured and results-oriented approach to the National Economic Dialogue, expressing concerns that the recent event could become just another talk shop without concrete outcomes.

Speaking on JoyNews’ *Newsfile* on Saturday, March 8, Mr. Bentil acknowledged the value of dialogue and inclusivity in shaping economic policy but emphasized the need for highly focused discussions to drive meaningful change.

“It is always good to discuss issues, to dialogue, to widen the net, and bring ideas beyond just your political party. To that extent, it is a very useful exercise. It helps avoid the echo chamber effect,” he noted.

However, he questioned whether the dialogue was fully optimized to produce tangible solutions, highlighting Ghana’s history of similar forums with limited impact.

“We’ve been through too many of these. What did we get from them? Why would this be different? I am happy we had this discussion, but I just wish we had maximized it and done more,” he said.

Mr. Bentil stressed the need for bold decision-making and action-driven discussions, arguing that while Ghana’s economic challenges and their solutions are well-known, implementation remains a major obstacle.

“We know our problems. We know the solutions. But it’s a Ghanaian syndrome—we don’t want to pay the price. We don’t want to do the difficult things that will solve the problems, but we want the outcomes of those things. It will never work,” he remarked.

He urged leaders to move beyond broad discussions and focus on implementing tough but necessary economic reforms, warning that without decisive action, Ghana will continue to face the same challenges despite repeated dialogues.