Bawumia meets with japan top engineering firms to discuss masterplans on flooding in Ghana

According to report by Dunkwatv on Sunday 8, November 2026, New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has proposed the introduction of legally binding, long-term national development masterplans for critical sectors of Ghana’s economy to ensure continuity in government policies and infrastructure projects.

The proposal is aimed at addressing the recurring problem of abandoned development projects and policy changes whenever a new political administration assumes office. According to Dr. Bawumia, Ghana needs a development framework that will compel successive governments to maintain commitments to major national projects, irrespective of political differences.

He made the proposal following a series of engagements with leading Japanese development and engineering institutions during his visit to Japan. His final day of formal meetings included discussions with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Nippon Koei, CTI Engineering and Oriental Consultants Global.

The discussions focused on several important development challenges facing Ghana and other countries, including disaster risk reduction, coastal erosion, flood prevention, transport planning and comprehensive urban development.

Dr. Bawumia said his engagements had provided him with valuable insights into Japan’s approach to national development, particularly its commitment to long-term planning and the implementation of policies across successive administrations.

He expressed admiration for Japan’s ability to build consensus among political leaders and relevant stakeholders before embarking on major national development programmes.

“Japan takes the long view. They build consensus around a plan and then commit to executing it over 30 years,” he remarked.

Comparing Japan’s development approach with Ghana’s governance system, the former Vice President observed that the absence of legally binding national development plans often creates room for discontinuity.

He explained that successive governments frequently introduce new priorities after assuming office, sometimes resulting in the abandonment of projects initiated by their predecessors.

To address this situation, Dr. Bawumia believes Ghana must move beyond development strategies that are heavily influenced by individual political administrations.

He is proposing a national framework that would encourage political parties to agree on major development priorities and commit to implementing them over several decades.

Among the areas he believes should receive long-term attention are public transportation, flood control, coastal erosion management and urban planning.

His proposal, if adopted, would require broader political cooperation and institutional commitment to ensure that major national development projects are protected from unnecessary interruptions.

The proposal has also brought renewed attention to the importance of national development planning, political consensus and accountability in Ghana’s efforts to achieve sustainable economic and infrastructural growth.