NDPC calls for accountability and transparency in public reporting

The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson has called on public institutions to take their statutory reporting obligations seriously to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance.

Speaking at the launch of the 2024 National Annual Progress Report (APR) in Accra, Dr. Thompson emphasized that all government institutions, including Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), are required by law to submit annual progress reports to the NDPC.

He expressed concern that many public institutions continue to neglect this obligation, describing the trend as a reflection of poor accountability culture.

"Every organization on the government payroll is required to report annually. In fact, the report lists MMDAs that have failed to submit their reports — and this is public information,” Dr. Thompson stated.

“We encourage the media to highlight these lapses to create public pressure for improvement,” he added.

Dr. Thompson lamented the lack of consistency and professionalism in the management of public information, citing instances where government websites were outdated or non-functional.

“Some state-owned enterprises haven’t updated their annual reports since 2019. Others even have broken links or incorrect data on their websites,” he said.

“This reflects a broader problem — what I call ‘idonkerism’ — an attitude of indifference where anything goes.”

He argued that such lapses undermine Ghana’s governance and institutional effectiveness, noting that the NDPC’s Dimension 4 focus—Governance and Institutional Development—would address these weaknesses.

"In countries where people care, things work. Where we don’t care, things fall apart,” Dr. Thompson remarked, stressing that stronger systems and civic responsibility were essential for national progress.

On her part, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Director-General of the NDPC, said the report reflects both resilience and progress despite persistent fiscal and structural challenges.

She emphasized that the 2024 APR is the third assessment under the Agenda for Jobs II framework and the 23rd since national progress reporting began in 2002.

Dr. Amoah noted that the report covers six key areas—economic, social, environmental, governance, emergency response, and institutional performance—drawing data from ministries, departments, agencies, and local government authorities.

She noted that while Ghana achieved gains in revenue mobilization, inflation management, and export performance, challenges such as fiscal pressures, youth unemployment, infrastructure gaps, and weak institutional coordination remain.

Dr. Amoah also called for improved data quality and timely reporting by state institutions, stressing that reliable statistics are essential for evidence-based planning.

She urged all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and the media, to use the APR findings to promote transparency and informed national dialogue.

“The 2024 APR is not just a record of progress—it is a tool for action,” Dr. Amoah said. “As we approach the final year of the Agenda for Jobs II, this report must guide our collective effort to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Ghana.”

Taking his turn, Mr. Isaac Ewoe, Chief Analyst at the Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), said the Ghanaian economy showed signs of stabilization in 2024 despite lingering global and domestic pressures.

He explained that the cedi continued to depreciate against major international currencies, though at a slower rate compared to previous years.

The relative stability, he said, was largely supported by inflows from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other development partners, which helped cushion the local currency.

Mr. Ewoe noted that interest rates across most financial instruments declined, reflecting improved inflation dynamics and a steadier exchange rate.

However, he cautioned that the average lending rate remains high, posing a challenge to private sector growth and job creation.

He expressed optimism that ongoing policy interventions would help ease credit conditions for businesses.

On the fiscal side, Mr. Ewoe revealed that total government revenue exceeded targets for the year, driven largely by improved tax collection performance. He emphasized the need to widen the tax net to ensure a more sustainable revenue base.

“While revenue improved, expenditure pressures persisted,” he stated, noting that compensation payments continued to consume the largest share of total spending, leading to a widening of the fiscal deficit in 2024.

In the external sector, Mr. Ewoe reported that Ghana recorded stronger export earnings, particularly from gold and crude oil. Gold exports surged on the back of higher global prices, while oil export revenue increased by about 20 percent year-on-year.

Agricultural exports also performed well, earning higher returns even though export volumes remained largely unchanged from 2023.

He added that Ghana’s gross international reserves stood at approximately US$8.9 billion, providing more than four months of import cover — an indication of improved external stability.

Despite the encouraging trends, Mr. Ewoe underscored the need to address lingering structural vulnerabilities to consolidate the gains made.

He reaffirmed the NDPC’s commitment to supporting the implementation of reforms that promote fiscal discipline, strengthen the private sector, and enhance job creation.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith