CHAPTER 5 iii. Recommendations 34. The Panel recommends that the Government of Ghana: ? Balance sound macroeconomic policies (to increase economic growth, reduce inflation and ensure the stability of the cedi), against other policies (to reduce poverty, increase access to basic services and public facilities, and reduce inequities in the economy). ? Educate citizens that the following is required to meet these apparently conflicting objectives: discipline, hard work, thrift and a high level of productivity. ? In this context, develop a culture of shared growth. ? Use coordinating councils (of the types discussed in Chapter 4), with members drawn from the government, expert organisations, civil society and the private business sector, to help in developing the sort of cooperation that enables a culture of shared growth to emerge and grow. Objective 2: Accelerate socio-economic development to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction i. Self-assessment 35. The GPRS has identified five thematic areas as medium-term (3-5 years) priorities in pursuing the interrelated objectives of sustainable development and poverty reduction in the country: ? ? ? ? ? Macroeconomic stability; Production and gainful employment; Human resources and basic services; Protection of the vulnerable and excluded groups; and Good governance. 36. Owing to a combination of slow growth in per capita income and high, volatile inflationary pressures, as well as an annual population growth rate of about 2.7%, Ghana's weak economic performance in the 1990s made it impossible to realise the government's projection that the country would achieve middle-income status by 2013. To attain such status, the CSAR projects that Ghana would have to record an annual 124