By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, Nov. 05, GNA – The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has finalized guidelines for the preparation of the 2026-2029 Medium Term Development Plans of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs), and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The guidelines are in accordance with the National Development Planning (System) Act 1994, Act 480, and the National Development Planning (System) Regulations 2016, L.I. 2232.
The guidelines were developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), among others.
In addition, the Commission has worked with the Ministry of Finance on the Integrated Assembly Financing Framework (IAFF) to improve domestic revenue mobilization efforts of MMDAs.
As part of efforts to ensure a broader perspective of consultation and participation, the Commission is organizing regional orientation workshops for MMDAs on the Planning Guidelines, as well as providing training on the IAFF in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Christopher Papa Kojo Conduah, a Senior Planning Analyst, NDPC speaking at one of such engagements in Kumasi, said the Plan required a lot of data to make some projections, there was therefore, the need to bring on board planning, budget, and spatial planning officers to be able to contribute to its successful implementation in January 2026.
He said a lot had changed in the way of doing things, emphasising that in 2020 when the COVID-19 struck, it affected the plans in particular.
“Different needs have come up mid-way through the implementation and we see the need for these emerging issues that have come up particularly, the introduction of African Continental Free Trade Area, gender dimensions, water and sanitation and climate change.
These issues have come up and we see the opportunities in there for the MMDAs to address concerns in the medium-term development plans going forward,” he suggested.
Mr Conduah noted that COVID-19 affected implemented plans because the various restrictions introduced impacted negatively on revenue targets, projects at the various assemblies which prevented them from mobilizing revenue to finance development efforts.
He believed that the Medium-Term Development Plan whose implementation begins in 2026 will seek to address the lapses in the COVID era to propel economic growth and stability.
GNA