Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated a 37-Member National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), reminding the Commissioners that Ghanaians increasingly demand a stable and predictable path for national development that transcends electoral cycles and partisan politics. The eighth Commission, chaired by Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, replaces the 49-Member previous Commission.
According to Ghana News Agency, the NDPC was established under Articles 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution as part of the Executive. The National Development Planning Commission Act, 1994 (Act 479), and the National Development Planning (System) Act, 1994 (Act 480), provide the core legal framework for the establishment of the Commission and the performance of its functions.
President Mahama charged members of the Commission to work together to deliver a development plan that charts a bold and transformative path for the nation, and one that would guide future generations and liberate Ghanaians from the limitations of the past. He emphasized that the Constitution empowers the Commission to prepare National Development Plans, monitor and evaluate the performance of government programs, and provide informed advice to the President and Parliament through rigorous research and policy analysis.
The President stated that this significant mandate demands broad consultation and active engagement with citizens across all sectors of society. He expressed confidence that under the new leadership, the Commission will continue to uphold its responsibility with renewed diligence, integrity, and commitment.
Article 10(5) of the Constitution requires the President to present a Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies to Parliament within two years of assuming office. President Mahama explained that since 1994, this task had been carried out in close collaboration with the Commission. He indicated that preparations were underway for his Administration’s next coordinated program, which would reflect not only the vision and policy priorities of the government but also the collective aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
The President reiterated that the Coordinated Programme would also serve as the foundation for the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework, guiding the operations of various government entities over the next four years. He invoked the legacy of Ghana’s first leader, Kwame Nkrumah, emphasizing the need for a long-term vision to break free from the country’s reliance on primary commodities.
President Mahama highlighted that since the completion of the 40-year National Development Plan in 2017, other frameworks with similar long-term ambitions had emerged. Notable among these were the Ghana Beyond Aid Charter, the Ghana at 100 Long-Term Development Framework, and the Vision 2057 Perspective Framework. He urged the Commission to consolidate these efforts into a coherent, inclusive, and forward-looking national development plan, ensuring that it reflects a broad national consensus and is subject to regular review in response to evolving challenges.
Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, the Chairman of the NDPC, expressed gratitude to the President for entrusting them with such an important responsibility. On behalf of all the Commissioners, Dr. Thompson pledged their commitment to fulfilling the duties and obligations that come with their roles to the best of their ability.