Accra, August 6, 2025 – As consultations on the formulation of the Policy and Strategy (NDPS) 2026-2030 continue, the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation, led by Dr. Gameli Kewuribe Hoedoafia, held a meeting with key stakeholders in Development and Spatial Planning at the local level. The purpose was to review proposals from practitioners on integrating these planning functions at the local government level, in line with the aspirations of the Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936), and to build consensus on the way forward.
Present at the meeting were the Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah; Chief Executive Officer of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Dr. Kwadwo Yeboah; Chairman of the LUSPA Board and Planning Consultant Mr. Jonathan Azasoo; President, Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP), Mr. Percy Anaab Bukari; and representatives from the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS), National Association of Development Planners (NADEP); the Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP), and selected planning officers from Regional Coordinating Council (RCCs) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies(MMDAs).
In his remarks, Dr. Hoedoafia explained that the IMCC had engaged various institutions as part of a broader consultation process in the development of the NDPS, 2026-2030. These consultations, he emphasized, were designed to be as inclusive as possible, given the transformative reforms the policy seeks to implement. He noted that the policy is structured around the following six thematic areas: Political Decentralisation, Administrative Decentralisation, Fiscal Decentralisation and Local Finance, Decentralised Planning, Local Economic Development, and Popular Participation and Accountability. These are also underpinned by six (6) cross-cutting themes, namely, Climate Change; Biodiversity and Environmental Management; Gender, Disability and Social Protection; Technology and Innovation; Mindset, Ethics and Change Management; The 24-Hour Economy; and Safety and Security.
Mr. Jonathan Azasoo, the lead expert working on the Decentralised Planning thematic area, presented highlights of key structural and operational issues identified under the current decentralised planning system. He cited existing weak structural and operational systems at both district and regional levels, poor coordination and collaboration among key planning institutions, and the lack of a comprehensive ICT-based planning system.
He also noted that spatial planning remains underemphasized and stressed the need to strengthen both development and spatial planning functions to support a more resilient and integrated framework.
Following the identified issues, the team recommended the establishment of a new Planning Department to consolidate all planning functions, ensuring synergy and effective decentralised planning. Additional recommendations from the team included targeted capacity building for planning officers, the development of a comprehensive ICT-based planning system, and institutional readiness assessments to facilitate implementation.
Participants unanimously agreed on the need for integrated planning at the local level but called for wider stakeholder engagement and the development of a concept paper to guide the process.
