Greater Accra becomes first region to secure full certification of all district development plans

The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, has disclosed that the Greater Accra Region has become the first in the country to achieve full certification of the Medium-Term Development Plans of all its Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for the 2026–2029 planning period.

This milestone marks a significant step in strengthening planning, coordination and compliance within Ghana’s decentralised development planning system.

Speaking at a strategic regional consultative engagement at the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council with MMDAs and key stakeholders on the preparation of the Consolidated National Development Plan, Dr Amoah described the milestone as a significant demonstration of institutional discipline, responsiveness to review processes, and commitment to credible development planning.

She noted that the achievement reflects strong coordination between the Regional Coordinating Council and the Assemblies in aligning their plans with national policy frameworks and planning guidelines.

Dr Amoah emphasised that strict adherence to approved development plans is essential, as public expenditures are assessed against these plans by both internal and external auditors.

She urged other regions to emulate Greater Accra’s example by prioritising timely submissions, responsiveness to review comments, and alignment with national development priorities.

The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Dr Nii Moi Thompson, commended the Greater Accra Region for setting the pace but cautioned that certification must translate into real development outcomes.

“Certification is not the end of the process; it is the beginning of disciplined implementation,” he stated.

“The real measure of success is whether these plans improve service delivery, strengthen local economies, and enhance the living standards of our people.”

He urged assemblies to move beyond compliance and focus on measurable impact, institutional efficiency and accountability in execution, while highlighting persistent challenges such as institutional weaknesses, budget fragmentation, revenue mobilisation issues and poor spatial planning.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, described the Region’s achievement as both an honour and a responsibility.

She noted that being the first region to secure full certification places Greater Accra in a leadership position that must be sustained through effective implementation, transparency and collaboration with stakeholders.

She reaffirmed the Region’s commitment to ensuring that approved plans are not only well designed but fully executed to deliver tangible improvements in infrastructure, jobs, sanitation and public services.

In closing, the Director-General presented certificates of approval to the Regional Coordinating Council and MMDAs with certified plans for the 2026–2029 planning period, marking a significant step toward disciplined, accountable and impactful development planning in the Region.

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