He said this policy was formulated with the commitment to effectively coordinate interventions that are designed to improve rural people’s standard of living by providing basic social and economic services and by creating a political, legal, economic and social environment, which will empower them to take charge of their own development.

“It would also focus on agriculture, social service provision, industrialization, financial inclusion and skills development as its drivers of change in Ghana.”

Mr Adjei said this at the opening of the one-day stakeholders’ review and validation workshop on the Rural Development Policy organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Accra.

The rationale of the Policy is to provide the right perspective, direction and effective coordination for rural development for which government seeks to ensure delivery of the One District, One Factory; Planting for Food and Jobs and One Village, One Dam initiatives. The policy and its action plan is also expected to provide an impetus to source funding for its implementation and participants are to critically examine the six objectives and 30 strategies developed within its thematic  areas.

It is much informed with key issues or challenges in the rural communities, including high incidence of poverty, illiteracy and non-functioning of sub-district structures, out migration, inadequate employment opportunities in rural areas and low investment in infrastructure. He said there were several principles guiding the development of the policy, namely Constitutional mandate, Decentralisation, Inter-sectoral Coordination and Partnerships, Cultural Diversity and Sustainable development.

Mr Adjei said the ministry has initiated the District Centre for Agriculture, Commerce and Technology as a strategy to deliver industrialization and improvement in agriculture across the country, especially in rural areas.

He said rural development efforts had been with us since independence and in the past involved the construction of community centres, provision of rural quarters and grading of farm roads among others.

“Rural development has evolved around efforts to improve standard of living of the rural dwellers and governments over the years have made efforts to improve the standards of living of the rural population.”

Mr Sylvanus Adzornu, Director of Urban Development at the Ministry said the policy development process include the establishment of a rural development task team at the Ministry and  an Inter-Sectoral  Technical  Committee  with  membership  from  key Ministries, Departments and Agencies, assessment of current situation and framework for rural development through a review of literature and Preparation  of a draft  policy and action  plan  proposal based on the outcome  of the assessment of current situation and literature review.

"Other process are, review of the draft policy and action plan by a sub-technical committee, series of consultations through cross-country fora with RCCs, MMDAs, Civil Society, Development Partners, citizen groups and media.

Also, review of the draft policy and action plan, based on the outcomes of cross-country consultations, validation of the final reviewed policy and action plan, presentation to the Inter-Sectoral Technical Committee for inputs and validation and submission to Cabinet for consideration and approval.

He said the policy objectives was to modernise agriculture for rural growth and development; provide  quality socio-economic  infrastructure  and services in a decent  and secured environment; maximise  the  potential of rural areas towards rural enterprises development and industrialisation and promote sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources for the benefit of the rural population.

“It is also to promote financial inclusion in rural communities and strengthen participation of the rural communities in the formulation, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development plans and programmes within a decentralised governance system.”