NDPC Engages Western Region on Inclusive, Long-Term National Development Framework
The National Development Planning Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to building a new, inclusive long-term national development framework, as it engages key stakeholders in the Western Region as part of ongoing regional consultations.
The engagement forms part of a broader consultative exercise across the country to ensure that the next phase of Ghana’s development is both locally grounded and nationally coherent.
Addressing participants, the Chairman of NDPC, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson stressed that Ghana’s development challenge is no longer about the absence of plans, but about enforcement, efficiency and accountability. “We have produced several well-intentioned development frameworks over the years,” he noted. “The critical issue is not drafting documents; it is ensuring disciplined implementation and institutional commitment.”
He urged policymakers to look beyond partisan interests and focus on long-term national progress, adding that “development challenges do not wear party colours.”
He further emphasised that beyond drafting plans, Ghana must confront institutional weaknesses, political interference and inefficiencies that undermine implementation. Citing gaps in revenue mobilisation, enforcement of by-laws and resource management, he observed, “The law exists. The revenue potential exists. The real challenge is discipline and institutional commitment.” He warned that selective enforcement of regulations weakens governance and erodes public trust. “Development does not wear party colours. If rules apply only to some and not to others, institutions lose credibility.”
The Director-General of the NDPC, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, also emphasised the critical role of disciplined planning and monitoring in driving sustainable national development during a consultative engagement with stakeholders in the Western Region.
Touching on the Commission’s Medium Term Development Policy framework for 2026 to 2029, the Director-General highlighted that the framework guides development across five key dimensions: economic development; social development; environment, infrastructure and spatial planning; governance and institutional development, and international relations. “The policy framework is more than a guideline; it is a tool for accountability and measurable results,” she said, noting that district plans feed into regional integrated plans, which in turn form the foundation of the national development plan.
Dr. Smock Amoah also stressed the importance of implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, urging Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to ensure medium-term plans reflect community priorities and are regularly reviewed. Highlighting progress, she revealed that eight out of 16 Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs), including the Western Regional Coordinating Council, had their plans certified, while 102 out of 261 districts nationwide had met the required standards.Certificates were formally issued to districts including Amenfi Central, and Wassa East. “Certificates signify more than compliance; they are a mark of accountability, discipline, and readiness to implement plans for sustainable growth,” Dr. Amoah said, urging all districts to maintain a culture of proactive development and contribute meaningfully to national progress.
The Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Nelson, emphasised the importance of sound land administration and human capital in driving regional development during the consultative engagement with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC). He noted that “actual zoning supported by efficient land administration systems and effective dispute resolution mechanisms can significantly improve investor confidence and reduce developmental bottlenecks.”
Hon. Nelson also underscored the need for planning that transcends political cycles, stressing that “long-term planning is about generational impact. The priorities embedded in the consolidated national development plan will shape how our children live, work, and compete in the decades ahead.” He affirmed the region’s commitment to constructive participation, saying, “we stand ready to contribute, sharing both our opportunities and our constraints with honesty and clarity. When national vision is grounded in regional realities, planning becomes practical, and when regions see their aspirations reflected in the national blueprint, implementation becomes ownership.”
