Accra: Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Chair of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has called for a paradigm shift in assessing national development, urging that every government must be measured primarily by net job creation, rather than infrastructure projects. "There comes a time in the national development narrative where every government must be measured by net job creation, and every other thing becomes secondary," he stated during a media encounter in Accra, where he presented key findings of the NDPC's strategic engagements with regions and districts on developing a consolidated national development plan for Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Thompson argued that while infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, and schools are important, they should be considered secondary to employment opportunities, which remain the most pressing demand of the people. He highlighted that proper employment stems from the growth and strength of the economy, citing the expansion of sectors such as industry, manufacturing, agriculture, services, business investment, and net exports as the true engines of sustainable job creation.
Serving also as Presidential Advisor on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Thompson expressed concern over practices that burden unemployed youth seeking opportunities in the security services. He described as "morally offensive" the requirement for unemployed young men and women to pay for application forms when applying to join the security services. In some jurisdictions, he noted, recruitment into security agencies is not even classified as job creation but rather as administered employment.
Dr. Thompson stressed that Ghana must adopt more rigorous standards in measuring employment, ensuring that statistics reflect genuine economic growth and opportunities. To this end, the NDPC intends to train labour economists to improve the quality of labour statistics in the country. He noted that accurate data is essential for effective planning, as it enables policymakers to design interventions that respond to the realities of the labour market.
Reaffirming the Commission's commitment to aligning national development strategies with the aspirations of citizens, Dr. Thompson emphasized that job creation must remain the central benchmark of national development.