The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, has revealed that the new 40-year development plan crafted by his commission brings to fruition the vision of the country.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he explained that through broad discussions with various stakeholders, the NDPC was able to define the goals, vision, aspirations, and directions necessary for developmental growth over the next four decades.

Dr Mensah-Abrampa said that “these goals were also redefined into clear objectives under each of the dimensions: the economy, the social direction of policy, governance, infrastructure and settlement development, and disaster management or emergency response. These areas have defined objectives.”

He added “We identified alternative strategies to help us achieve these objectives and attain the goals. Out of that, there are defined targets which will guide us through the trajectory.

"We considered what we are going to achieve in 2057 and then logically worked backwards. If we want to do that, what are the various chronological attainments that we need to achieve before getting there?”

Dr Mensah-Abrampa explained that the NDPC segmented the plan into 10-year periods, with defined targets for each area.

Additionally, each 10-year segment was further broken them down into four-year segments, which carry the medium-term development plans, the NDPC Director General explained.

He, however, noted that the commission stayed away from detailed programs, projects, and activities to facilitate this development plan.

“The assumption here, developed from our experience, is that the programs, projects, and actions belong to governments which have been elected with the mandate to govern the people around that to attain these defined targets.”

“These targets respond to our aspirations expressed in the goals, through the objectives and strategies. This framework is more indicative, more target-oriented, and more about holding governments accountable than making it prescriptive.”

However, the former Deputy General Secretary for the NDC Peter Boamah Otokunor believes that the development plan should be made somewhat prescriptive.

Also speaking on PM Express, he explained that having parts of the plan be prescriptive will ensure successive governments stay true to the development plan.