Accra:Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has emphasized the importance of using evaluation evidence in national development planning to enhance policy implementation, improve resource allocation, and strengthen accountability.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Amoah delivered her remarks during the 2026 Ghana Evaluation Week (GEW) Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon, under the theme 'Strengthening Evidence Use for Inclusive Development Bridging Policy, Practice and Innovation.' She highlighted the necessity of utilizing evaluation as a critical tool for decision-making beyond mere data collection and report writing.
Dr. Amoah pointed out that the evaluation of the 2022-2025 Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework has led to four strategic shifts in the 2026-2029 framework. These shifts include enhancing institutional and human capital, advancing regulatory and legal reforms, ensuring predictable financing, and promoting data-driven coordination.
She also mentioned initiatives by the NDPC to bolster evidence generation and utilization in policy development. Supported by the German Development Agency (GIZ) through the PAIReD programme, the NDPC has completed reports on several national programs, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Free Senior High School, and GIFMIS.
Dr. Amoah urged stakeholders, including development partners, academia, and civil society organizations, to collaborate in translating evidence into practical solutions for citizens. She stressed moving from evidence generation to usage, addressing implementation gaps, and achieving measurable improvements.
Ms. Dede Bedu-Addo, President and Coordinator of the Ghana Monitoring and Evaluation Forum, highlighted the need for the organization to strengthen its capacity and expand its reach beyond Ghana, leveraging growing interest from international individuals for stronger partnerships.
The 2026 Ghana Evaluation Week, held from October 19 to 21 at the University of Ghana, has gathered government officials, development partners, researchers, and evaluation practitioners to discuss strategies for enhancing evidence use in development planning and policymaking.