The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Nii Moi Thompson, has identified corruption and weak revenue mobilisation systems as major obstacles to effective local governance and development in Ghana.

Speaking at a strategic engagement with government officials and traditional leaders in the Ahafo Region, Dr Thompson said the persistent shortfalls in Internally Generated Funds (IGF) among Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies reflect deeper structural challenges rather than mere financial limitations.

He pointed to poor data systems, weak revenue administration, incomplete business registers and lax enforcement as key factors undermining revenue collection.

He further noted that inefficiencies such as leakages, illegal practices and the misuse of public funds continue to erode public confidence and weaken service delivery.

“The challenge is not only about the availability of resources but how those resources are managed,” he stressed, adding that addressing both revenue mobilisation and expenditure inefficiencies is critical to national development.

Dr Thompson also highlighted broader constraints affecting local economies, including inadequate infrastructure, limited access to credit and insufficient investment beyond major urban centres.

He warned that without strengthening these local systems, efforts at national development would remain uneven and unsustainable.

He emphasised the need for reliable, disaggregated data to guide planning and decision-making, noting that the absence of accurate information at the district level often leads to ineffective policy interventions.

He also raised concerns about poor human resource allocation within assemblies and weak time management practices, calling for greater accountability, transparency and efficiency to rebuild public trust and improve governance outcomes.