The newly inaugurated Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, has vowed to pursue a bold, inclusive, and transparent strategy for Ghana’s national development.
He pledged to give “development a human face” and to make planning and monitoring processes accessible to all Ghanaians.
At the inauguration of new NDPC commissioners held at the Jubilee House in Accra, Dr. Thompson thanked President John Dramani Mahama for the appointment and reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to effective planning, civic involvement, and real-time monitoring of government policies.
The reconstituted Commission now has 37 members, down from 49, and will work through eight specialised sub-committees. These will cover key areas such as the economy, transport and logistics, energy and private sector development, agriculture and natural resources, employment and earnings, public sector reform, social development, and infrastructure and land use.
Dr. Thompson made clear that the Commission’s responsibilities go beyond technical planning, stressing the importance of public consultation and civic participation.
“The law requires us to provide a platform for all Ghanaians — from parliamentarians and political parties to faith-based organisations, civil society groups, and individuals — to contribute to short, medium, and long-term development plans,” he stated.
Central to his approach is the digitisation of government monitoring tools, which he said would promote “civic auditing,” enabling citizens to follow government performance in real or near-real time through user-friendly platforms.
He also signalled a shift in how economic performance would be measured, moving beyond GDP to include jobs and wage growth in what he termed a “3D” framework.
“Most people don’t understand GDP. It’s time we gave development a human face,” he said.
Dr. Thompson underscored the need to improve national productivity, citing a stark contrast between productivity levels in the United States and Ghana.
“The average American produces about $80 an hour, while a Ghanaian worker produces just $5. That gap must close.”
He further noted President Mahama’s commitment to local economic empowerment and said the Commission would support Local Economic Development (LED) efforts. These include reviving the District Business Climate Survey and partnering with financial institutions to monitor credit flows to districts and regions — data that would guide targeted interventions in underperforming areas.
Dr. Thompson praised the President for restoring sanitation responsibilities to district Assemblies, describing it as a vital move toward decentralisation.
“The practice of procuring goods and services for district Assemblies from Accra is not only inefficient, it drains wealth from the very communities meant to benefit,” he added.
“We will support you, Mr. President, to deepen this bold move toward decentralisation.”
He concluded by reaffirming the NDPC’s role as the country’s “brain trust” for development and its intention to collaborate closely with all stakeholders.
Established under the 1992 Constitution, the NDPC is responsible for formulating, monitoring, and evaluating national development policies.
2025 Members of the National Development Planning Commission
No Name Membership Expertise Comments 1 Dr. Nii Moi Thompson Chairman Economics Confirmed 2 Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson Minister, Ministry of Finance (ex-officio) Confirmed 3 Dr. Johnson Asiamah Governor, Bank of Ghana (ex-officio) Confirmed 4 Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu Government Statistician, GSS (ex-officio) Out of the country 5 Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah DG, NDPC (ex-officio) Confirmed 6 Hon. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey Minister, Gender, Children & Social Prot. Confirmed 7 Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie Minister, Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts Confirmed 8 Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim Minister, Local Gov’t, Chieftaincy & Rel. Affairs Confirmed 9 Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare Minister, Trade, Agribusiness & Industry Confirmed 10 Hon. Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo Minister, Labour, Jobs & Employment Out of the country 11 Hon. Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba Minister of State, Public Sector Reforms Confirmed 12 Mr. Joseph Baradoe Ahafo Representative Development Policy & Planning Confirmed 13 Sir Charles Adjei Ashanti Representative Economics Confirmed 14 Prof. John Yaw Akparep Bono East Representative Organisational Management Confirmed 15 Dr. Thomas Agyei Bono Representative Botanics Confirmed 16 Mr. Samuel Baabu Danso Central Representative Finance Entrepreneur Confirmed 17 Hon. Andrews Sodah Eastern Representative Management Confirmed 18 Mr. Moses Baafi Acheampong Greater Accra Representative Law Confirmed 19 Mr. David Yenukwa Kombat North East Representative Population Studies Confirmed 20 Mr. Bernard Bagyepu Jagri Northern Representative Social Science Confirmed 21 Mr. Mohammed S. Awal Oti Representative Governance and Development Confirmed 22 Dr. Sachibu Mohammed Savannah Representative Endogenous & Intl. Development Confirmed 23 Ms. Zeinabu Mohammed Ayariga Upper East Representative Management Confirmed 24 Prof. Elijah Yendaw Upper West Representative Population and Health Confirmed 25 Dr. Elikplim Apetorgbor Volta Representative Energy Law & Economics Confirmed 26 Ms. Charlotte Otuwa Odum Western Representative Economic Management Confirmed 27 Dr. Emmanuel Carsamer Western North Representative Economics Confirmed 28 Mr. Seth Ofori-Ohene Expert Finance and Business Confirmed 29 Mr. Abdul-Nasser Alidu Expert Finance & Economics Confirmed 30 Prof. William Baah-Boateng Expert Labour Economics Confirmed 31 Mrs. Mona Quartey Expert Financial Economics Out of the country 32 Ms. Emelia Affi Agbenyo Expert Skills/Jobs/Gender Confirmed 33 Mr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku AGI MD, Kina Group Out of the country 34 Mr. Franklin Owusu Ansah Organised Labour GS, Health Services Workers Union Confirmed 35 Mr. Michael Bozumbil Ghana Employers Association CEO, Petrosol Plantimun Energy Confirmed 36 Mr. Percy Anaab Bukari Ghana Institute of Planning GIP President/Planning Confirmed 37 Dr. William Cantah Academic Institution (UCC) Economics Confirmed
