The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, the Right Honorable Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, on the 11th of June 2025, welcomed Professor Elijah Yendaw, Director General of the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), and his delegation to discuss strategies for enhancing productivity and national development.
During the meeting, Prof. Yendaw highlighted the key challenges facing MDPI, including replacing the Institute’s LI 1077 with an act of Parliament to empower the institute, completion of MDPI office building, incessant encroachment of MDPI land at Baatsona, provision of official vehicles for the institute’s operations, unhealthy competitions from mushroom private training institutions, enhanced remunerations to attract high-skilled staff, clearance for recruitment of key staff, among others. He proposed increased government support to enable the Institute to effectively deliver on its mandate of fostering productivity and sustainable development across Ghana.
In response, Speaker Bagbin acknowledged the critical role of MDPI in driving national progress but emphasized that attitudinal change remains a fundamental requirement for Ghana’s development. “We can have the best policies and resources, but without a shift in mindset towards discipline, efficiency, and a strong work ethic, our progress will remain stunted,” he stated.
The Speaker further encouraged MDPI to seek strategic partnerships with renowned productivity institutions in Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Collaborating with global leaders in productivity, such as the Singapore Productivity Centre and the UK’s Productivity Institute, can position Ghana as a productivity hub in Africa,” he noted. Such partnerships, he added, could facilitate knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the adoption of best practices to enhance Ghana’s economic competitiveness.
Prof. Yendaw expressed gratitude for the Speaker’s insights and assured him of MDPI’s commitment to driving productivity reforms. He also welcomed the suggestion for international collaborations, stating that such alliances would significantly bolster the Institute’s impact.
The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to strengthen ties between Parliament and MDPI in advancing policies that promote productivity, innovation, and national development.
