CHAPTER 3 good for ownership, as well as for debt management and the development of entrepreneurship or the private sector in general. Stakeholders agree that the ability to attract FDI would increase with improvements in macroeconomic policies, institutions (property rights, constraints on government, and the legal framework in general), and government efficiency (including reducing corruption). Measures for raising the quality of human capital (e.g. schooling, technological capability of the labour force, and worker discipline), would also contribute to attracting FDI. Stakeholders did not, however, elaborate on how these improvements and measures should be brought about. Participation and transparency 35. Several stakeholders state that, participation in economic programme design by persons and bodies outside the government, especially outside the Accra region, is currently very weak, as is transparency in decision making. Inadequate information about government plans and procedures prohibit substantive contributions to policymaking. Too often, suggestions offered to the government are ignored in its decisionmaking and some of the political elites are simply insensitive to feelings at grassroots level. It is felt that government officials underestimate the capabilities of ordinary persons and civil society organisations, particularly those outside Accra, to contribute substantially to economic policy-making. Broad participation in national policymaking and transparency in government decision-making would improve program design, policy implementation and economic performance. 36. Government representatives emphasised that the capacity of stakeholders is a key component of their ability to contribute to public policy-making. The government is not reluctant to elicit wide participation, but such an invitation must of necessity be limited to those stakeholders with adequate capacity to make a significant contribution. Concerted efforts are typically made to achieve broad participation in those policies with a major welfare impact on all citizens. Hence, in formulating development plans and poverty programmes, such as the GPRS, discussions and consultations occur at all levels and in all regions. Careful attention is paid to ensuring that the objectives and instruments, as well as the projected costs and benefits to various groups and regions, are clearly understood. The government frequently organises workshops for chiefs and other groups, enabling them to participate more substantially in governance. 37. A few government representatives in regions outside Accra contend that, since Ghana's parliament plays an important role in economic decisionmaking, it is logical to 58