President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the 37-member Eighth National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), tasking them with creating a long-term development plan that transcends political cycles and guides Ghana’s progress for generations.
Mahama urged the NDPC to deliver a “bold and transformative path” for the nation, empowering Ghanaians to overcome past limitations.
Established under the 1992 Constitution and governed by Acts 479 and 480, the NDPC is responsible for preparing national development plans, monitoring government programs, and advising the President and Parliament.
The President emphasised the importance of broad consultation with citizens in fulfilling this mandate.
He also noted the NDPC’s crucial role in developing the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies, which he is required to present to Parliament within two years.
The programme, he said, would form the basis for the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework.
The President invoked the legacy of Ghana’s first leader, Kwame Nkrumah, emphasising the need for a long-term vision to break free from the country’s reliance on primary commodities.
“Nearly 70 years after independence, our economy continues to rely heavily on a narrow range of primary commodities, with limited diversification and value addition,” President Mahama stated.
“This reality reflects the persistence of structural constraints that continue to hold us back—proof that, in many respects, we remain ‘prisoners of our past.’”
The President highlighted the existence of multiple long-term development frameworks, including the Ghana Beyond Aid Charter, the Ghana@100 Long-term Development Framework, and the Vision 2057 Perspective Framework.
He urged the NDPC, now chaired by Dr Nii Moi Thompson, who led the development of the 40-Year National Development Plan in 2017, to consolidate these efforts into a single, coherent plan.
“This must be done in close collaboration with Parliament and the people’s representatives,” President Mahama stressed, emphasising the importance of inclusivity and a broad national consensus.
The plan, he added, should be subject to regular review to adapt to evolving domestic and global challenges.
President Mahama underscored the significance of the NDPC’s work, noting its collaboration with the government in preparing the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies, due to be presented to Parliament within two years.
“This Programme will reflect not only the vision and policy priorities of this government but also the collective aspirations of the Ghanaian people,” the President stated.
He further clarified that this Coordinated Programme would form the foundation for the next medium-term national development policy framework, guiding the operations of government ministries, departments, agencies, and local assemblies for the next four years.
By; Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
