NDPC presents approval certificates to MDAs, RCCs for 2026–2029 development plans

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has formally presented certificates of approval to a number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs), whose Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) for the 2026–2029 period successfully passed the Commission’s review process.

The event, held in Accra, marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the government’s Resetting-Ghana Agenda, which focuses on job creation, accountability, and shared prosperity.

In her opening remarks, the Director-General of NDPC, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, described the certification as an important step toward delivering sustainable development outcomes.

She explained that the approved plans were developed around five key thematic areas: economic development; social development; environment, infrastructure and spatial development; governance and institutional development; and international relations.

Dr. Amoah announced that eight MDA plans and two RCC plans had so far met the criteria for approval, with others still undergoing review.

She stressed that certification is only the beginning and urged all approved institutions to ensure full implementation of their plans in ways that positively impact citizens’ lives.

Among the institutions that received certificates were the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, and NDPC itself.

Chairman of the NDPC and Presidential Advisor on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, underscored the critical importance of the certification process.

He noted that approval is not a bureaucratic formality but a prerequisite for the release of government funds, warning that “no certificate, no cash.”

Dr. Thompson urged MDAs and RCCs to focus resources on high-impact initiatives rather than scattering efforts across numerous projects.

“The success of these plans will be judged not by what is written on paper, but by results — resilient infrastructure, decent jobs, improved services, and better lives for Ghanaians,” he stated.

Representing the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Augustus Kwesi Adu, Director of Policy Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation, reinforced the message that funding will only be made available to institutions with certified development plans.

He called on MDAs and RCCs to adhere strictly to their approved strategies during implementation.

In a show of appreciation, representatives from the certified institutions thanked their teams for the hard work involved in developing the plans and praised the NDPC for its guidance and technical support throughout the process.

They, however, appealed to the Ministry of Finance to ensure timely disbursement of funds, noting that adequate financing is essential to achieving the goals set out in the plans.

The certification exercise is mandated under the National Development Planning (System) Act, 1994 (Act 480) and the Planning Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2232), and serves as a critical step in integrating national development priorities with budget planning and execution.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith