Dr Edward Mahama, the former ambassador-at-large has expressed worry over the seeming neglect of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) by the current and previous governments.
Mahama believes the situation is robbing Ghana of development that it needs in critical areas such as housing, health and education.
Speaking to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (18 May), Mahama said all political parties must be made to adopt a national development plan in their tenure.
“That is why I think in 2008, I was insisting that the NDPC, be the one, if you have manifesto, like this government is in power, the manifesto should be taken to them for vetting and alignment.
“And they say ‘ok, you will do this’, so that even if you are not there, whoever comes must complete them, because basically it is the people’s money, we waste it and come and say pay more, it is not fair to Ghanaians.”
“No one is listening to them, no one is looking at them, but they have a very important role. If you don’t have a development plan to run a nation you are wasting your time, especially in this dispensation that we are changing government,” he said.
Watch Dr Edward Mahama in the attached video file below:
Lack of funding
Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, executive director, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), has said side-lining the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) over the years by current and successive governments is worrying.
Dr Akwetey believes the continuous starving of such institutions to effectively discharge their duties is robbing the nation of its development.
Speaking with Kofi Abotsi on Town Hall Talk on Asaase Radio on Friday (5 November), Dr Akwetey said: “The institutions have been weakened and they have not even been empowered. And they don’t give them enough money to do anything.”
“NDPC is the monitoring and evaluation institution of the state. Look at how the political parties when they come both sides – National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) – they sidelined them, they have reduced it to some Siberia.”
“They come up with quarterly reports and so on, to what extent are their reports taken seriously to influence disbursement of funds,” Dr Akwetey added.
Depoliticising NDPC and others
Dr Akwetey said depoliticising such institutions will make them more efficient.
“We should have institutions of state professionalised: people with the competencies and not just party identity. Even party identity may not rank anymore because people will value their professional competencies to do things and the empowerment they have from the state, and how do you do this, you have to get to the table and agree because you can impose it.”
About NDPC
The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) was established under Articles 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution as part of the executive.
It is responsible for advising the President on national development planning policy and strategy by providing a national development policy framework, preparing and ensuring effective implementation of approved national development plans and to coordinate economic, and social activities country-wide in a manner that will ensure accelerated and sustainable development of the country.
Fred Dzakpata
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