Accra: Dr. Victor Abbey, a Strategic Thinking and Leadership Expert, has called for the elevation of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) into a full authority with stronger legal backing to drive Ghana's long-term national development agenda beyond partisan political interests. According to him, Ghana's development efforts continued to suffer because successive governments subordinated national planning to short-term political and electoral considerations.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Abbey emphasized in a media interview the necessity for visionary and strategic leadership akin to that of the nation's founding fathers, who prioritized national transformation over short-term political gains. He noted that empowering the NDPC is crucial for achieving the country's long-term goals.
Dr. Abbey expressed his wish for the NDPC to achieve authority status, asserting that political will is essential for such a transformation. He criticized the current political landscape, where partisan agendas often overshadow national priorities, leading to inconsistent development efforts.
Established under Articles 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution, the NDPC was formally created through the National Development Planning Commission Act, 1994 (Act 479), and the National Development Planning (System) Act, 1994 (Act 480). The Commission's mandate includes advising the President on development planning policy and strategy, preparing national development frameworks, coordinating development planning at all levels, and monitoring and evaluating government programs.
Despite its responsibilities, the NDPC has faced criticism from analysts and civil society groups regarding weak implementation of development plans, inadequate political support, and frequent policy discontinuities with changes in government.
Dr. Abbey, a retired military officer and leadership consultant, attributed many of Ghana's governance and development challenges to the erosion of ethical values, institutional weaknesses, and excessive politicization of national issues. He highlighted the weak implementation of long-term frameworks like Vision 2020 and Vision 2057 due to a lack of sustained political commitment.
He stressed the importance of genuine commitment from political leaders to enable state institutions to function independently. Dr. Abbey argued that the effectiveness of the NDPC is contingent not only on its conversion into an authority but also on political leaders' willingness to allow institutions to operate effectively.
Reflecting on the leadership of Ghana's founding leaders, including Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Abbey noted their transformational agendas post-independence, which included the establishment of systems, infrastructure, educational frameworks, and governance structures for the long term. He contrasted this with the current political environment, which he described as focused on elections and self-interest rather than national development.
Dr. Abbey proposed leadership training and values-based education starting at the primary school level to cultivate future leaders with integrity, patriotism, and strategic thinking skills. He emphasized that true leadership is about responsibility and acting in the interest of future generations.