Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has criticised successive governments for failing to leverage the influence and international networks of former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan to boost the country’s industrial development.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at the 14th Prof. John Atta Mills Commemorative Lecture on Wednesday, July 22, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said Ghana could have used Kofi Annan’s strong relationship with the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), to secure support for sustainable socio-economic transformation.
According to him, Ghana failed to take advantage of a unique opportunity during and after Kofi Annan’s tenure as UN Secretary-General to build a stronger industrial partnership with UN agencies.
“Ghana never leveraged that extraordinary relationship with Kofi Annan to seek transformation assistance from the UN system, particularly the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to place this country on the path towards sustainable socio-economic development,” he said.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng noted that Ghana’s first major industrial partnership with UNIDO was only established in 2019, 13 years after Kofi Annan left office, and was financed by European partners rather than through Ghana’s own contribution.
He contrasted Ghana’s missed opportunity with that of India, which he said spent 50 years strengthening its relationship with UNIDO, and eventually becoming one of the organisation’s top 10 donors to its industrial development fund.
“Comapre that to India that spent over 50 years building on that relationship, government after government until it became one of UNIDO’s top 10 donors, paying into the industrial development fund.
“India went from asking for help to giving it. That is what 50 years of discipline looked like,” he stated.
The former minister described Ghana’s inability to build on the opportunity presented by Kofi Annan’s global stature as a missed opportunity and a reflection of the country’s inconsistent approach to long-term planning.
“Ghana has no such story to tell, missed opportunity,” he added.
