The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Dr Nii Moi Thompson, has called for a radical shift in Ghana’s development planning approach, stressing that inclusive, accountable, and data-driven planning is the only path to sustainable national growth.

Speaking at a strategic regional engagement with MMDAs and key stakeholders in the Ahafo Region on Thursday, 26th March 2026, Dr Thompson drew attention to critical gaps in planning and design, using a striking real-life observation to make his point, “When we walked in here, I said to myself; this must have been designed by a man,” he remarked. Planning must be gender-sensitive… when we ignore these differences, we create exclusion without even realising it.”

He cautioned that Ghana cannot continue to produce development plans without addressing why previous ones have failed.

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

Dr Thompson further identified corruption, weak revenue systems, and poor resource management as major threats to Ghana’s decentralisation agenda.

Citing real-life cases, he disclosed 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.

The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, reiterated the importance of planning discipline and strict adherence to national guidelines, noting 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 explained.

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

She added that monitoring and evaluation systems have been strengthened at all levels from national to district to ensure that performance is tracked and reported effectively.

Dr Amoah also 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 therefore urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to prioritise 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, the Acting Coordinating Director, 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 building a more inclusive and responsive national development agenda.

The delegation was accompanied by the Commission’s Regional Representative, Joseph Baradoe.

Certificates were presented to all six districts in the Ahafo Region following the approval of their Medium-Term Development Plans for the 2026–2029 planning period.