The Ghana Institute of Planning (GIP) has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to enhance national development planning, spatial governance, and policy implementation. This commitment was reinforced during a strategic meeting held on March 18, 2025, at the NDPC premises, which was aimed at revitalizing and strengthening the long-standing partnership between the two institutions.
Leading the GIP delegation, President Pln. Percy Anab Bukari (FGIP) was accompanied by members of the National Executive Committee and distinguished Fellows of the Institute. The visit also provided an opportunity to extend congratulations to the newly appointed Chairman of NDPC, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, and the Acting Director-General, Pln. Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah (FGIP), on their well-deserved appointments. The delegation expressed confidence in their leadership and vision to drive meaningful reforms in national development planning.
In his remarks, Pln. Percy Anab Bukari underscored the symbiotic relationship between GIP and NDPC, highlighting the Institute’s longstanding technical support to the Commission. He reiterated GIP’s commitment to providing professional expertise to improve national and local governance structures, advocating for closer collaboration in policy design, monitoring, and evaluation. He further emphasized the importance of GIP’s representation on NDPC, ensuring that professional planners actively contribute to shaping Ghana’s development trajectory.
Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Chairman of NDPC, expressed appreciation for GIP’s unwavering contributions to national development. He acknowledged the vital role of spatial planning in ensuring sustainable growth, emphasizing that development is best reflected in the built environment. Using global examples such as Dubai, he highlighted how structured urban planning enhances perceptions of progress and economic prosperity.
Addressing key planning concerns, Dr. Thompson raised issues of worsening urban governance, inefficiencies within District Assemblies, and the poor implementation of critical spatial plans, including the Greater Kumasi Structure Plan. He emphasized the need for better infrastructure planning and delivery to align with the country’s long-term development aspirations.
Dr. Thompson further assured the GIP delegation of his commitment to ensuring the full representation of the Institute on the Commission and fostering a stronger partnership for technical collaboration. He indicated that NDPC was set to introduce strategic reforms in development planning and monitoring to drive transformative and sustainable growth.
The GIP delegation welcomed the move and reaffirmed the Institute’s readiness to provide technical expertise whenever required, highlighting the diverse specializations of GIP professionals across the country. The meeting concluded on a positive and forward-looking note, with both institutions committing to deepening collaboration to enhance Ghana’s development planning landscape.
This engagement forms part of a broader strategy by GIP to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders in advancing development planning, urban governance, and policy implementation in Ghana.
