The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, has called for a radical shift in Ghana’s development planning, stressing that inclusive, accountable, and data-driven approaches are essential for sustainable national growth.

Speaking at a strategic regional engagement with MMDAs and key stakeholders in the Ahafo Region on Thursday, March 26, Dr. Thompson highlighted critical gaps in planning.

Using a striking real-life example, he remarked, “When we walked in here, I said to myself; this must have been designed by a man. Planning must be gender-sensitive… when we ignore these differences, we create exclusion without even realising it.”

He warned that Ghana cannot continue producing development plans without addressing why past plans failed.

“What is the point of creating yet another plan if we do not first understand why previous plans have failed?” Dr. Thompson questioned, noting that the Commission is engaging stakeholders nationwide, including traditional leaders, to ensure broader ownership and practical input into the next national development framework.

The NDPC Chairman also identified corruption, weak revenue systems, and poor resource management as major threats to the country’s decentralisation agenda.

Citing real-life examples, he revealed how public funds are misused at the local level.

“If we are presiding over such blatant leakages, how can we turn around and say we do not have enough budget? We can generate enough if we mobilise and utilise resources efficiently,” he stressed.

Reiterating the importance of planning discipline, NDPC Director-General Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah noted that development plans remain the backbone of accountability across government institutions.

“Whenever you request funds, the first document that will be demanded is your development plan,” she said.

“Before auditors even ask for contract registers, they will ask for your plan to verify whether implementation aligns with what was proposed.”

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 both planning and implementation.

“Certification is only the beginning. What truly matters is implementation… the next time we meet, we should be counting achievements, not lamenting challenges,” she stated.

On behalf of the Ahafo Regional Minister, Acting Coordinating Director Mr. Joseph Frimpong Nayo emphasised the need for data-driven decision-making and a shift from subsistence agriculture to value-added industrialisation, supported by strong infrastructure and energy systems.

He urged stakeholders to contribute to a more inclusive and responsive national development agenda.

The delegation, accompanied by the NDPC’s Regional Representative Mr. Joseph Baradoe, presented certificates to all six districts in the Ahafo Region following approval of their Medium-Term Development Plans for the 2026–2029 planning period.