NDPC Advocates Long-Term Development Plan Beyond Political Manifestos
NDPC Chairman says Ghana needs a long-term development blueprint that transcends electoral cycles and partisan politics.
- NDPC calls for long-term planning.
- Dr. Thompson backs decentralisation.
- New national development plan underway.
The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Thompson, has called for a national development framework that extends beyond political manifestos and electoral cycles, arguing that Ghana’s long-term growth should not be determined by changing political administrations.
Speaking on the country’s development challenges, Dr. Thompson stressed that political manifestos are largely political documents and should not be treated as comprehensive roadmaps for national development.
According to him, Ghana can no longer rely on short-term development strategies tied to four-year electoral cycles. Instead, he said the country requires a clear long-term vision that outlines its future aspirations while addressing longstanding structural challenges that have impeded sustainable growth.
Dr. Thompson pointed to significant regional and socioeconomic inequalities across the country, noting that economic opportunities and population growth remain concentrated in certain parts of Ghana, while many communities continue to lag behind in development.
He revealed that nearly 54 percent of Ghana’s land area experiences severe economic and infrastructural deprivation, highlighting the urgent need for policies that promote balanced national development.
To address these disparities, Dr. Thompson advocated greater political and economic decentralisation, arguing that empowering local authorities with more resources and decision-making powers would foster inclusive growth and improve development outcomes.
He dismissed suggestions that decentralisation could threaten national cohesion, insisting that the concentration of resources in the capital poses a greater risk to unity.
“The real threat to national unity is not decentralisation, but the continued concentration of resources and benefits in Accra while communities that generate those resources remain underdeveloped,” he stated.
Dr. Thompson also disclosed that the NDPC is currently developing a Consolidated National Development Plan that will serve as a comprehensive long-term blueprint for Ghana’s growth and transformation.
He expressed optimism that the plan would help create policy continuity, reduce development gaps, and provide a clear strategic direction for future generations.
From Prince Joe Boadi
