This instalment of the ESP is based on three objectives: improved equitable access to and participation in inclusive education at all levels, improved quality of teaching and learning and STEM at all levels, and sustainable and efficient management, financing and accountability of education service delivery. Along with the Education Sector Medium Term Development Plan 2018-2021, the ESP charts the long term path and aspirations for the education sector.

The Development Plan was conceived alongside the 2018-2030 Education Strategic Plan and the Education Sector Analysis. The plans chart the course of the education sector, as it propels Ghana towards its vision of becoming a learning nation.

The GSGDA is developed subject to a directive of the constitution of the Republic of Ghana, charging government to establish a just and free society through sound policies. The strategy is premised on the need for a more stable macroeconomy, stimulated by prudent exploitation of resources, investments in human capital, infrastructure development, science, research and technological innovation.

The framework forms part of a broad infrastructural component of the long-term national development plan of the country. It details the investment principles and priorities for 30 years. The framework is to coordinate infrastructure plans, both public and private driven, as it pertains to road transport, aviation, maritime, and railway, through effective planning, prioritisation, funding, and delivery. It is seen as a crucial component to drive other long-term national development plans, on the path to pushing Ghana towards attaining the status of a high-income country by 2040.

The fisheries sector is one of the key pillars of the Ghanaian economy, owing to its importance as a source of livelihood, contributions to the economy, and nutritional benefits accruable. Research has however shown a decline in fish resources due to weak implementation of the laws and regulations guiding management of fish resources. The national policy thus seeks to, among other things, ensure strict implementation of fishery laws and regulations, prevent overexploitation, protect biodiversity and marine habitats, and strengthen value addition.

The regulations set out to check and combat international trade (import and export) of illegal timber products in and out of Ghana and illegal logging operations.

The act provides for the regulation of import and export of seeds, as a means to prevent and control pests and plant diseases.

The National Action Programme explores avenues of halting desertification in Ghana. It places a premium on integration of plans, institutions, and stakeholders, in the form of a community of practice, to deepen and sustain interventions.

The biodiversity of Ghanaian forests is threatened by pressures related to human activities and natural phenomena. This reduces the impact of forests on the country’s socio-economic development and environmental maintenance. The development master plan seeks to manage Ghana’s forest and wildlife resources sustainably, promote forest-based industries, and promote technology and research-driven management efforts, among others.

The development policy and strategy for the livestock sector follow from the 2004-2015 Livestock Development Policies and Strategies. It seeks to address the implementation challenges faced by the previous policy as a means to facilitate rapid growth and development of the sector.

The NSPS represents the government’s vision for an inclusive society with sustainable mechanisms for combatting exclusion, poverty, and vulnerabilities. It moves to drive the attainment of its goals by leveraging the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Social Grants scheme that will provide target groups with a reliable and cost-effective cash transfer to support their basic human needs.

The act establishes the National Disaster Management Organization with the function to manage disaster areas and emergencies, as well as rehabilitation of persons affected. It is also responsible for developing disaster management plans to effectively mitigate consequences of disasters.

The policy aspires to serve as a guide to the pharmaceutical sector in Ghana. It targets critical areas, among which include: legislation and regulatory control, local manufacture, herbal medicines, drug procurement and supply management, quality assurance, and monitoring and evaluation.

The 20-year development master plan pushes to: drive cooperation, coordination, coherence and synergy in forestry-related issues at all levels; promote good governance through accountability and transparency; modernize forest enterprises as a means of job creation for the rural and urban poor; promote timber plantation development; ensure biodiversity conservation and ecotourism development; and pursue sustainable financing of forestry sector activities.

The Act makes provisions for the settlement of disputes via arbitration, mediation and customary arbitration. The act also establishes an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre. The Act applies to matters other than those that relate to the national or public interest, the environment, the enforcement and interpretation of the Constitution, or any other matter that by law cannot be settled by an alternative dispute resolution method.

The regulations center around water drilling licences, application procedures, fees, duration, and prohibitions. It also addresses intricacies of well construction, as well as offences and miscellaneous matters.

The National Climate Change Policy is to provide direction to stakeholders and coordinate all climate change interventions and activities in Ghana. Its ultimate goal is to ensure a climate resilient and climate compatible economy while achieving sustainable development through equitable low carbon economic growth for Ghana, on the path to attaining the status of a full-fledged middle-income country. The objectives of the policy are effective adaptation and social development and mitigation, while the thematic areas upon which they are premised are: energy and infrastructure, natural resources management, agriculture and food security, and disaster preparedness and response.

The NAP details 8 courses of action to combat illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Ghana. They are all state responsibilities, flag state responsibilities, coastal state measures, port state measures, market-related measures, research, regional fisheries management organizations, and special requirements of developing countries.

The Regulations implement provisions of the Fisheries Act of 2002. It stipulates that there shall be the development of a Fishery Management Plan with specific objectives and durations to guide and regulate fishing activities. Provisions are also made for fishing licences, compliance measures, monitoring mechanisms, and fishing equipment, among others.

The policy represents the first ever comprehensive policy document on wildfire in Ghana. The policy focuses on the need to check environmental degradation from wildfires and the destruction of biodiversity. The policy pushes to ensure effective prevention and control of wildfires, raise awareness levels, and ensure coordination of stakeholders.