The Ghana Institute of Planning (GIP) has concluded its 54th Annual General Conference and Meeting (AGCM) in Tamale with a strong policy message from the Special Guest of Honour, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. The Minister called for a decisive shift from costly corrective measures to proactive, well-coordinated planning across all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Addressing participants gathered under the theme “Shaping Ghana’s Tomorrow: The Role of Planning in Driving Economic Growth, Job Creation and Sustainable Urban Development,” the Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to the “No Plan, No Cash” principle as a crucial mechanism for strengthening accountability and ensuring value for money in local development.
He explained that substantial public funds are repeatedly spent on decongestion operations and other corrective actions—interventions that could be avoided with effective spatial planning and disciplined development control. He indicated that these expenditures will now be redirected toward planning as a proactive strategy to prevent congestion, protect public spaces and promote orderly urban development.
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim further announced that planning will feature as a stand-alone requirement in the next DACF Utilization Guidelines, ensuring a dedicated focus on planning processes within Assembly budgets. This reform is expected to compel MMDAs to prioritise comprehensive planning, strengthen plan preparation and improve alignment between approved plans and funded development interventions.
The programme also featured a keynote address from the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, who emphasised the centrality of long-term planning in driving national transformation. Other speakers included the NDPC Director-General, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah; Dr. Toni Aubynn, CEO of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation; Prof. Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, Vice Chancellor of SDD-UBIDS; and representatives of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralization (IMCCoD). Their presentations collectively underscored the critical role of planners in strengthening decentralisation, driving local economic development and promoting sustainable urbanisation.
GIP President, Pln. Percy Anaab Bukari (FGIP), expressed appreciation to the Minister, speakers and partner institutions for their support and reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to advancing evidence-based planning and strengthening the decentralised planning system.
Ghana Institute of Planning
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