Bolgatanga: Mr Akamugri Donatus Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, has called for the institutionalisation of the Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture, Resilience and Livelihoods (PEARL) Framework to ensure its continuity beyond political and administrative transitions. He emphasized the importance of structuring the 10-year development and investment blueprint in a way that prevents successive governments from abandoning it when political leadership changes.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Atanga made this call during a stakeholder review meeting in Bolgatanga aimed at addressing inputs from stakeholders, resolving outstanding issues, and agreeing on institutional, financial, and implementation arrangements for the PEARL Framework. The PEARL Framework, set for 2026-2035, is designed to transform the region's agricultural potential into competitive agribusiness, promote enterprise development, harness mineral resources for broader economic value, expand trade and investment, and create employment opportunities. It is expected to mobilise an estimated GHS8.6 billion in public and private sector investments.
Mr Atanga stressed that the success of the framework would be measured by the tangible changes and opportunities it creates across communities, rather than the quality of the document itself. He noted the importance of ensuring PEARL's continuity beyond the four-year political cycle and establishing arrangements that protect its integrity, enable transparency, and allow successive administrations to build upon prior achievements.
He highlighted the need for the framework to belong to the region as a whole, rather than any single institution, administration, or political party. For PEARL's success, strong institutions, sustainable financing, partnerships, effective coordination, and accountability mechanisms are critical. Mr Atanga also urged stakeholders to integrate PEARL into national and regional planning systems to leverage national programmes, private investments, and development financing opportunities.
Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, Member of Parliament for Nabdam, emphasized the necessity of involving Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in PEARL's implementation. He reiterated that PEARL covers various sectors, including agriculture and mineral resources, and that existing resources should be strategically directed through the framework for improved development outcomes.
Mr Boniface Gambila, a former Ambassador of Ghana to Burkina Faso and former Upper East Regional Minister, called on stakeholders to prioritize the region's development interests over partisan considerations. He highlighted past challenges of discontinuity and stressed the importance of maintaining PEARL's focus on the collective development needs of the Upper East Region.