part of efforts to  empower citizens and government to move beyond politics and focus on policy and shared vision for Ghana's future.

 Speaking at the launch, President and founder of ACET, Dr Kingsley Y. Amoako, said that the Compact was an  agreement between citizens and government.  regardless of who was in power on the direction of travel for Ghana, on the vision and principles that underpin democracy.

He said that it would address  pressing challenges through inclusion by putting policy before politics.

"To create #theGhanaWeWant, we need political and constitutional reforms that help end extreme political division and polarization", says Dr.???

Dr Amoako pointed out that elections in Ghana had indicated a deep political and social  division producing a deep sense of worry about the democracy of Ghana and its future. These, he noted were due to factors such as Ghana's  constitution, fiscal frameworks that  have led to deficits and excessive  borrowingas well as frequent changes in policy direction.

"We struggle to engage, inspire and most importantly, employ our youth-the very future of our country" adding that "this is why I developed the Ghana Compact, to seek a new, more  hopeful and

inclusive way to tackle the fundamental challenges we face".

He pointed out that there was still time to  address some of Ghana's challenges and opportunities and set a unified vision with clear goals and  measurable targets  before the next election.

Dr Amoako stated that the Compact would help government focus on national interests, empower citizens to take more  responsibility and make elections less about politics.

Giving a youth  perspective on the Ghana Compact, Radia Chentiwuni Issahaku, a member of the Northern Regional Network said that youth  employment

remained a  major cause of emigration from Ghana, while the country also faced the highest emigration of skilled professionals.

She noted that the launch of the Compact would promote development of a plan that  prioritised accountable, inclusive and transparent governance, quality education and leadership for the youth.

"To build the Ghana that we want, young people should be seen as key players and partners in economic transformation and development"

Dr Ibn Chambas said that Ghana was a trailblazer to African political independence  triggering  the decolonization of sub-saharan africa.

pointed He pointed out that in recent times, however, there have been genuine concerns about the decline of democracy in Africa West Africa.

Dr Chambas said  that poverty remained widespread in  Africa with widening inequalities among others.  He said that  Ghana remained a leader in  African stability and  governance despite current economic  crises.

"The Time is now to correct the course and to turn  our fortunes around."   He expressed hope that the compact would be a template for states in the subregion and across Africa to address the deficit in democratic governance,   persistent poverty and socio economic challenges.

Selected panelists also discussed the mindset and values needed  for Ghana's economic and political  transformation as well as their  perspectives on  goals

and targets for transformation over the next 25 years.

About the Ghana  Compact

The Ghana  Compact launched by ACET as an initiative that will set a clear and collective vision for the country through 2050.

It will focus on four critical areas that are impeding Ghana's progress towards economic transformation by finding consensus for and commitment to the following interventions: _

(I). Political and constitutional reforms that help end extreme political division and polarization

(ii) Policies that will lead to improvements in Ghana's fiscal health to unlock greater and more responsible investment in Ghana's development

(iii) A long-term vision for economic transformation and a strong system that will ensure leaders adhere to collectively agreed goals.

(iv) Long-term targets that will improve gender equality, access to affordable high quality health service and education, the skills of young Ghanaians, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) growth,

 and job creation while better preparing the country for the impacts of climate change.