Religious Leaders Call for Stronger National Development Planning Commission
Religious leaders in Ghana have called for a review of the 1992 Constitution to ensure that the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) becomes stronger and more independent. They argue that this will help prevent the abandonment of development projects by successive governments and protect the public purse. The call was made at a seminar organised…
Religious leaders in Ghana have called for a review of the 1992 Constitution to ensure that the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) becomes stronger and more independent.
They argue that this will help prevent the abandonment of development projects by successive governments and protect the public purse.
The call was made at a seminar organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs on the topic of “reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution: views and reflections of religious leaders”.
Among the religious leaders who spoke at the event were Rev. Dr Lawrence Tetteh, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu and Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo. Rev. Dr Tetteh emphasised the need to integrate national development planning into all aspects of governance and ensure that it is in line with the nation’s long-term development vision. He also called for a review of the Constitution to ensure that it is still applicable and responsive to the needs and aspirations of Ghanaians.
Most Rev. Dr Boafo stressed the importance of gender equity in governance and education, and called for clear provisions for women’s participation in the Constitution. Sheikh Shaibu called for concrete steps to review the composition of the NDPC to make the institution more independent and its activities and national development agenda binding on any government or political party that assumes power.
The event was attended by political parties, Members of Parliament, Civil Society Organisations, and other stakeholders. The religious leaders’ call for a stronger and more independent NDPC is seen as a step towards ensuring continuity in development, protecting the public purse, and preventing unrealistic development projects by ruling and past governments.
The call by the religious leaders for a review of the Constitution to strengthen the NDPC has been well-received by many Ghanaians. They believe that this will help address the country’s development challenges and promote sustainable growth and development. As Ghana prepares for the next general election in 2024, there are growing calls for political parties to make the strengthening of the NDPC a key part of their campaign promises.
