Nationwide Public Forums Confirm Dev't Gains, Reinforce People-Centered Governance

Addis Ababa, December 21, 2025 (ENA) —Nationwide public forums held in Addis Ababa and regional cities have affirmed tangible development gains while generating ideas that will guide Ethiopia’s future priorities, government and Prosperity Party officials said.

Ethiopia has recently held a series of nationwide public forums aimed at reviewing the country’s development progress and gathering input to guide future priorities.

These forums, conducted in various cities including Bahir Dar, Mizan Aman, and Hosanna, have provided an important platform for direct dialogue between government officials and citizens from diverse backgrounds such as youth, women, elders, religious leaders, and scholars.

Speaking at a public forum in Bahir Dar City, Minister of Planning and Development Fitsum Assefa said the discussions demonstrated the effectiveness of ongoing development efforts and strengthened trust between the public and the government.

“The forum reflected what has been achieved on the ground and allowed additional development issues to be freely discussed,” Fitsum said, noting that broad public participation was a positive sign of democratic practice.

“The people expressed their views freely, and this shows the strengthening of democratic practice in our country,” she added.

According to the minister, the government and the Prosperity Party are closely listening to public concerns and translating plans into concrete results.

The development works being carried out are responding to the people’s demands and achieving their intended objectives, she said, adding the strong public government relationship witnessed during the forums will continue to deepen.

The minister further said development initiatives in Bahir Dar City are delivering visible benefits and could serve as a model beyond Ethiopia.

 “The results we are seeing here show that our development path is benefiting the people and can be an example for other African countries,” she stated, stressing that progress toward economic sovereignty is strengthening Ethiopia’s long-term growth capacity.

Echoing this view, Head of the Public and International Relations Department of the Prosperity Party Bikila Hurissa said the public forum held in Mizan Aman City also generated wide-ranging ideas that will inform future national work.

 

 

He said participants included youth, women, elders, religious leaders, scholars and government employees.

“The discussion showed strong public engagement, with participants appreciating the work done so far while also proposing areas that require further improvement,” he added.

According to him, major national issues, including port access and flagship projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, were openly discussed, reflecting growing public awareness and ownership.

“The ideas raised have created renewed enthusiasm and motivation. They will serve as valuable resources for future national undertakings,” he said.

Similarly, Minister of Urban Affairs and Infrastructure Chaltu Sani said the public discussions proved that Ethiopia’s revival is firmly rooted in the people.

Speaking at a forum in Hosanna City of the Central Ethiopian Region, she said the discussions strengthened government capacity through direct engagement with citizens.

 

 

“Public discussions are where we have proven that Ethiopia’s revival is with the real people,” she said.

The minister also noted that direct dialogue with citizens has become a regular practice, allowing people to freely raise ideas, questions and concerns.

The Hosanna forum was marked by open participation and constructive debate, which she described as a source of renewed strength for government institutions, she emphasized.

She said urban development and infrastructure projects, including corridor development, have been widely welcomed by the public, while concerns such as unemployment were also clearly raised.

 “There is a clear demand for solutions to unemployment, and we have agreed to respond to the development questions raised during the discussion,” the minister noted.

According to the officials, the forums collectively confirmed development progress, strengthened public trust in government, and reinforced a culture of dialogue and shared responsibility in advancing Ethiopia’s national development agenda.