The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, has stated that achieving gender equity requires inclusive planning that goes beyond budgetary allocations and becomes integral to all stages of development.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP) at KNUST last Friday, Dr Amoah explained that true equity means actively considering the distinct needs of all citizens in every project.
“Gender equity must be seen as a pathway to equality and not merely a symbolic gesture of setting aside budgets for women and girls,
“It is about ensuring that the varied needs of both females and males are considered in planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting”, she said.
While acknowledging Ghana’s progress in expanding infrastructure, Dr. Amoah pointed out that significant inequalities in access remain, especially in rural and peri-urban communities.
She noted that the government’s policy to increase resources to local authorities under the Resetting-Ghana Agenda creates a greater responsibility for planners to ensure equitable distribution.
According to her, frameworks such as the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework (2026–2029), the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, and gender-responsive budgeting guidelines provide opportunities to embed inclusiveness across all levels of planning.
Dr Smock Amoah further emphasized the role of planners in shaping safe and equitable spaces, stressing the importance of ensuring access to education, safety, and participation in governance for women, children, and persons with disabilities
She proposed a closer partnership between the NDPC and LoGSAPP to improve urban governance and service delivery.
She charged all planners that this is their moment to rise to the challenge
“This is our time and season, let us work better today for the sake of tomorrow”, she added.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
