The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Nii Moi Thompson, has called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to treat time as a strategic national asset and embed discipline within their institutional culture.
Speaking at a regional consultative engagement held at the Bono Regional Coordinating Council with MMDAs and key stakeholders on the preparation of the Consolidated National Development Plan, Dr Thompson called for a cultural shift in time management. He emphasised that discipline, improved service standards, and stronger revenue mobilisation are critical to Ghana’s development transformation.
He also highlighted the importance of service delivery standards, particularly in the tourism sector.
“Tourism is not only about castles and natural sites; it is about experience. Customer care is not optional; it is an economic strategy,” he said, noting that poor service attitudes, weak safety standards, and deteriorating facilities undermine Ghana’s competitiveness.
Dr Thompson further stressed that development was deliberate, not accidental. He added, “We often speak about financial resources and human resources, but we rarely speak about time as a resource. Yet time is the only resource that, once lost, can never be recovered.”
He described the country’s heavily informal economy as a major structural challenge, explaining that nearly 90 per cent of businesses operate within the informal sector.
“This means limited tax compliance and a narrow revenue base. If we do not formalise our local economies, we will continue to depend heavily on central transfers,” Dr Thompson cautioned.
The Director-General of the NDPC, Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, also underscored the importance of credible planning in driving accountability.
“Planning is not merely a procedural requirement; it is a strategic obligation. The quality of our development outcomes depends largely on the quality of our planning processes,” she said.
She added that development plans determine performance assessments, funding eligibility, and audit benchmarks.
The Ag. Chief Director/Regional Coordinating Director (RCD) for the Bono Regional Coordinating Council (BRCC), Mr Nar-Ire Puobenyere David, speaking on behalf of the Regional Minister, reaffirmed the region’s commitment to the national planning process.
“Development must not only be planned on paper but felt in the daily lives of our people. It must reach our farmers, empower our entrepreneurs, and revitalise our communities,” he said.
Deborah Narkie Nartey, ISD
