Prof. Peter Quartey advocates for constitutional national development plan to stop policy reversals

Prof Peter Quartey, Professor of Economics ISSER at the University of Ghana, is calling for Ghana’s long-term national development plan to be protected under the constitution to stop the recurring practice of policy reversals and scrapped development frameworks.
Speaking at a Graphic Business/Stanbic bank breakfast meeting in Accra, Prof. Quartey said the country has repeatedly abandoned national plans across different political eras, a pattern he believes has significantly slowed Ghana’s growth.
He explained that during military regimes, development plans were scrapped and replaced, a cycle that continued under multi-party democracy. According to him, anytime the nation reverses or suspends its development plans, economic growth dips sharply.
Prof. Quartey revealed that he personally contributed to several national plans, including one developed under the late J.H. Mensa and another 40-year plan involving a UK consultant—yet both were abandoned. He argued that such discontinuities do not help national progress.
He is proposing that Ghana enshrine a development plan in the constitution, ensuring governments cannot discard it at will. He said medium-term plans and annual budgets should align with the long-term national vision, but that vision must remain intact.
The economist also highlighted issues of leadership and seriousness at the National Development Planning Commission, noting that in some countries, the Vice President chairs planning commission meetings, giving the process the needed weight. In Ghana, however, NDPC often has to plead for funding and attention.
Prof. Quartey criticized the poor prioritization of research and innovation, saying most MMDAs have little to no budget for such work, which undermines development efforts.
He warned that frequent political appointments to NDPC leadership result in instability, recommending fixed terms and competence-based selections to ensure continuity.
On political parties, he stressed the need for transparency and accountability, especially regarding the filing of audited accounts, saying parties must demonstrate credibility if they expect public funding.
Prof. Quartey also expressed concern about policy reversals, citing the scrapping of 17 taxes in 2017 and another round of tax removals currently underway. He said such shifts create uncertainty for businesses that plan investments around tax regimes.
He concluded by urging Ghana to grow its domestic resources to fund the NDPC and support long-term development.