The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Nii Moi Thompson, has called for a strategic shift in Ghana’s development model, urging policymakers to prioritise spatial planning as a key driver of inclusive and balanced growth.

Speaking at a regional stakeholder engagement in the Ahafo Region on Thursday, March 26, Dr Thompson stressed that development must go beyond policy design to deliberately organising how land use, infrastructure and economic activities are distributed across the country.

“Planning must reflect the needs of all segments of society and ensure equitable access to opportunities,” he stated.

He identified the disconnect between sectoral planning and spatial realities as a major weakness in Ghana’s development framework, noting that while economic growth is often planned across sectors such as agriculture and industry, insufficient attention is paid to where such growth should occur.

According to him, aligning economic strategies with spatial considerations is essential to addressing urban congestion and bridging development gaps across regions.

Reinforcing this position, the Director-General of the Commission, Audrey Smock Amoah, underscored the importance of planning discipline and adherence to national guidelines.

“Whenever you request funds, the first document that will be demanded is your development plan,” she said, adding that monitoring and evaluation systems have been strengthened to improve accountability, although delays in submitting Annual Progress Reports remain a challenge.

On behalf of the Ahafo Regional Minister, Acting Coordinating Director Joseph Frimpong Nayo called for data-driven decision-making and a transition from subsistence agriculture to value-added industrialisation supported by robust infrastructure.

The engagement concluded with the presentation of certificates to all six districts in the region following the approval of their Medium-Term Development Plans for the 2026–2029 period.