"Preparing a development plan is not just desk work" – NDPC Boss

The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, has called on local authorities to place greater emphasis on community engagement and effective planning in driving development across the country’s districts.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in the Northern Region on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Dr. Amoah stressed that development planning must go beyond paperwork and reflect the real needs and priorities of local communities.

“Preparing a development plan is not just desk work,” she stated.

"It requires engagement with communities, adequate logistical support, and a strong commitment to implementation.”

Dr. Amoah explained that development plans serve as the foundation for coordinated growth and effective resource allocation at the district level.

According to her, when properly developed and implemented, such plans ensure that development interventions are systematic, responsive and sustainable.

The NDPC Director-General also highlighted the importance of the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT), which she said plays a crucial role in promoting accountability and improving the performance of local authorities.

She noted that the DPAT ranks districts based on key performance indicators, largely drawn from planning documents such as development plans and Annual Action Plans.

“The DPAT ranks all districts, and no district would want to find itself in the last position,” Dr. Amoah remarked.

Dr. Amoah further emphasised that the quality of planning documents is critical, particularly during monitoring exercises by development partners and oversight institutions, including internal audit teams, which often review such documents as part of their assessment.

She cautioned that delays in reporting at the district level could disrupt the country’s broader monitoring and evaluation framework, as national development reporting depends heavily on data and progress reports submitted by local authorities.

The NDPC Director-General therefore urged district officials to strengthen coordination within their planning structures, particularly the District Planning Coordinating Units, which are mandated to meet quarterly to review implementation progress and address emerging challenges.

She concluded by highlighting the role of the Regional Integrated Development Plan, which brings together the development priorities of all districts within a region to ensure coordinated and sustainable development across the country.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith