The newly inaugurated Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, has pledged a bold, inclusive, and transparent approach to Ghana’s national development agenda, promising to give “development a human face” and open up planning and monitoring processes to all Ghanaians.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of new NDPC commissioners at the Jubilee House in Accra, Dr. Thompson expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for the appointment and assured the public of the Commission's commitment to effective planning, public engagement, and real-time performance monitoring of government policies.

The Commission, now trimmed to 37 members from the previous 49, will operate through eight specialised sub-committees covering 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 emphasised that the Commission’s work is not limited to technocratic planning but is also rooted in public consultation and civic engagement.

“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.

A key pillar of his vision, Dr. Thompson revealed, is to digitise government monitoring tools to enable “civic auditing,” allowing citizens to track government performance in real or near-real time through accessible platforms.

Dr. Thompson outlined a shift in how economic performance would be assessed under the new Commission’s leadership.

Rather than focusing solely on GDP growth, he proposed a more holistic "3D" framework that includes growth in jobs and wages alongside GDP.

"Most people don’t understand GDP. It’s time we gave development a human face,” he said.

He also placed strong emphasis on boosting national productivity, citing the stark difference between American and Ghanaian output levels.

“The average American produces about $80 an hour, while a Ghanaian worker produces just $5.

That gap must close.”

Recognising President Mahama’s passion for local economic empowerment, Dr. Thompson said the Commission would prioritise Local Economic Development (LED), including reviving the District Business Climate Survey and collaborating with financial institutions to track and analyse credit flows to districts and regions. He said such data would help shape targeted interventions in economically lagging areas.

He commended the President for returning sanitation management responsibilities to district Assemblies, describing it as a critical step toward true 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.”

Dr. Thompson concluded by reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to serving as the nation’s “brain trust” on development matters and working collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels.

 

The NDPC, established under the 1992 Constitution, plays a central role in national policy formulation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Below are the members: 

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

Ghana Statistical Service (ex-officio)

out of the country

5

Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah

DG

NDPC DG (ex-officio)

Confirmed

6

Hon. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey

Minister

Gender, Children and Social Protection

Confirmed

7

Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie

Minister

Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts

Confirmed

8

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim 

Minister

Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs

Confirmed

9

Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare 

Minister

Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry

Confirmed

10

Hon. Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo

Minister

Labour, Jobs and Employment

out of the country

11

Hon. Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba

Minister of State

Public Sector Reforms

Confirmed

12

Mr. Joseph Baradoe

Ahafo

Development Policy and Planning

Confirmed

13

Sir Charles Adjei

Ashanti

Economics

Confirmed

14

Prof. John Yaw Akparep

Bono East

Organisational Management

Confirmed

15

Dr. Thomas Agyei

Bono

Botanics

Confirmed

16

Mr. Samuel  Baabu Danso

Central

Finance Entrepreneur

Confirmed

17

Hon. Andrews Sodah

Eastern

Management

Confirmed

18

Mr. Moses Baafi Acheampong

Greater Accra

Lawyer

Confirmed

19

Mr. David Yenukwa Kombat

North East

Population Studies

Confirmed

20

Mr. Bernard Bagyepu Jagri

Northern

Social Science

Confirmed

21

Mr. Mohammed S. Awal

Oti

Governance and Development

Confirmed

22

Dr. Sachibu Mohammed

Savannah

Endogenous and International Development

Confirmed

23

Ms. Zeinabu Mohammed Ayariga

Upper East

Management

Confirmed

24

Prof. Elijah Yendaw

Upper West

Population and Health

Confirmed

25

Dr. Elikplim Apetorgbor

Volta

Energy Law, and Energy Economics

Confirmed

26

Ms. Charlotte Otuwa Odum

Western

Economic Management

Confirmed

27

Dr. Emmanuel Carsamer

Western North

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

Managing Director, Kina Group

out of the country

34

Mr. Franklin Owusu Ansah

Organised Labour

General Secretary, Health Services Workers union 

Confirmed

35

Mr. Michael Bozumbil

Ghana EmployersAssociation

CEO, Petrosol Plantimun Energy Ltd

Confirmed

36

Mr. Percy Anaab Bukari

Ghana Institute of Planning

GIP President/ Planning

Confirmed

37

Dr. William Cantah

Academic Institution (UCC)

Economics

Confirmed