Kumasipioneer.com Truth l Accuracy l Fairness
The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, has emphasized the need for a radical shift in Ghana’s development planning approach, stressing that inclusive, accountable, and data-driven planning is the only path to sustainable national growth.
Speaking at a strategic regional engagement with MMDAs and key stakeholders in the Ahafo Region, Dr. Thompson highlighted critical gaps in planning and design, emphasizing the importance of gender-sensitive planning.
Dr. Thompson cautioned that Ghana cannot continue to produce development plans without addressing why previous ones have failed, questioning the point of creating yet another plan if the underlying issues are not addressed.
He identified corruption, weak revenue systems, and poor resource management as major threats to Ghana’s decentralisation agenda, citing real-life cases of public funds misuse at the local level.
The Director-General of the NDPC, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, reiterated the importance of planning discipline and strict adherence to national guidelines, noting that development plans remain the backbone of accountability across government institutions.
She emphasized that monitoring and evaluation systems have been strengthened at all levels to ensure performance is tracked and reported effectively.
Dr. Amoah disclosed that while all Regional Coordinating Councils submitted their plans, only a portion have been certified, with delays in Annual Progress Report submissions posing a major challenge.
She urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to prioritise planning and implementation.
The Acting Coordinating Director, Mr. Joseph Frimpong Nayo, emphasized the need for data-driven decision-making and a shift from subsistence agriculture to value-added industrialisation, supported by strong infrastructure and energy systems.
Certificates were presented to all six districts in the Ahafo Region following the approval of their Medium-Term Development Plans for the 2026-2029 planning period.
