BACKGROUND

The Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA or the “Centre”) was incorporated on the 4th of January 1994 under Ghana’s Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) as an independent, non-profit and non-governmental think-tank dedicated to fostering good economic management and governance in Ghana through the provision of rigorous research and analysis on economic policy issues of relevance to Ghana and the developing world.

CEPA promotes non-partisan informed debates on key policy issues on the economy of Ghana with emphasis on macroeconomics, growth and poverty alleviation. CEPA’s research focuses on fiscal and monetary policy; debt management, trade policy; industrial policy; the social sectors, agricultural policy with a view to proposing feasible policy alternatives in these areas.

OBJECTIVES OF CEPA

In the next phase of its operations, CEPA intends to pursue a broadened focus by extending its research interest to encompass new and emerging issues of policy importance. The key objectives of CEPA are:
 
To continue providing alternative policy options to policy-makers and other stakeholders through research.
To enhance the capacity of other institutions in Ghana through training, networking and internships.
To publish and disseminate economic information to raise public awareness of economic development issues.

MISSION

CEPA’s mission is to facilitate and promote open and pro-active discussions on key policy-related issues which will impact positively on poverty reduction and generate growth in Ghana.  CEPA will conduct sound and objective research whilst being mindful of our social responsibility.  We will seek to build capacity to promote sound advocacy and policy-making.

CEPA’s mission encompasses three broad dimensions:

  Economic Research and Policy Analysis
To analyze economic policy issues of critical concern to Ghana and to provide evidence-based research as an input into advocacy for alternative policy options to promote socio-economic development, economic growth and prosperity.

Capacity Building
To build bridges among diverse stakeholders, including government, business, academia and civil society organizations.

Dissemination and Outreach
To communicate research findings to a wider community and generate a greater awareness of policy issues through workshops, seminars and conferences
 
 In addition to these thematic areas, there is:

Research Library and Information Resource Centre
It caters for specialized research needs within the country on subject areas   that are of interest to CEPA.

VISION

CEPA’s vision is to be a high-standard international think-tank.  CEPA aspires to be a repository and a source of sound credible data, a definitive authority on economic policy issues affecting Ghana, the ECOWAS sub-region and Africa.  CEPA will provide credible data as input into advocacy and policy-making for a socio-economically improved Ghana.
Values

To achieve its mission, CEPA’s operations are guided by the following beliefs:

Teamwork, involving shared values and vision in the provision of policy research and analysis as a public good.
  Conducting research and analyzing important emerging issues.  
  Providing quality and objective research for our stakeholders.
Building capacity for improved advocacy and policy making.
Communicating regularly and effectively amongst stakeholders and employees.
Developing and motivating employees.
Efficiently utilizing resources including time.

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND OPERATION:

CEPA is governed by a ten-member governing council selected from different sectors of the Ghanaian society: academia, public sector and civil society. The council is responsible for providing policy guidelines on the operations of CEPA. In addition to the Council there are two other organisational support committees namely: the Management Committee and the Programmes Committee which supports the operations of the Centre.
The daily administration of CEPA is undertaken by a team comprising an Executive Director, Deputy Directors/Research Fellows, and the Administrative Staff.

 FUNDING
The Centre for Policy Analysis is partially funded by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the Ghana Research and Advocacy Program (G-RAP).

CO-FUNDING
As a Co-Financing Measure, CEPA is interested in collaborative work with international institutions on various research issues of relevance to Ghana, Africa and the Developing World.