Daasebre Oti Boateng launches 3 volumes of 'Unity in Development' book in Accra
The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Council, Daasebre Professor (Emeritus) Oti Boateng, has observed that, the nation cannot make any meaningful progress, unless a more prudent approach is made towards developmental policies.
He noted that development must come from the people because it is that people who must determine their local needs and aspirations and not people who do not live with them.
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Daasebre Oti Boateng made these remarks at the launch of his three volumes of his book entitled “Unity in Development" in Accra.
The series examines in details the path to chart in order to develop as a nation holistically.
It also catalogues developmental theories for effective national development.
In the series, Daasebre Oti Boateng who was the first black United Nations Commissioner on Statistics and also Ghana’s longest serving Government Statistician advocates for massive transformation in development thoughts in contemporary times, within the developing world especially in Africa.
The books provide a critical examination of the major development theories and practices that define the global development order in both classic and contemporary context and suggestions for an alternative and effective approach to rounded development and also make a strong case for the institutionalisation and the prudent use of community development council as key to local governance and development.
Among other things, the three books authored after decades of research studies by Daasebre Oti Boateng also provide insight into the urgent need of providing certain basic human needs such as clothing, food, health housing and education, in relation to the needs and aspirations of the people.
Daasebre Oti Boateng noted that his strong advocacy for a root-based approach to national development is as results of a study and experiences, which have proved that all forms of development must first put the local people in focus and not to score political points.
"Development must come from the people because no one can tell me what I need than myself,” he noted.
He, therefore, called for the setting up of community development council that would be a watchdog for all malfeasance.
He expressed the view that the Root-based Model espoused in the books provides a desirable bridge between the dominant growth-concentrated development pattern and the alternative development paradigm.
“In addition to its institutional networking dynamics utilizing the power of shared information for sustainable community development, the model resolves the critical issue of integrating the citizens sector into the national development process through a genuine participatory approach.” He said.
The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC). Professor Stephen Adei, who was the special guest of honour, observed that the books would be useful to the NDPC and all other research and development institutions.
He also called on the nation’s universities and other higher educational institutions to patronise the books
The chairman for the occasion, and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ivan Addie-Mensah, commended Daasebre Oti Boateng for his immeasurable intellectual capacity and insight and efforts made to author the books and also praised him for contribution to research and academia in a wide variety of human endeavours.
The first copy of the book was sold at Gh¢20,000.
