The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has commissioned a team of experts to lead the evaluation process for the implementation of the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework (MTNDPF).
The team will be led by Professor Charles Amoatey, Project Director, Development Impact West Africa, and Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye, a local governance expert. Government in 2021 developed the (MTNDPF), dubbed: “Agenda for Jobs II, 2022-2025, to operationalize Article 36, Clause 1 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Constitution enjoins Government to ensure that the national economy is managed efficiently to maximize citizens’ welfare. The evaluation is to assess the progress, effectiveness, and impact of the MTNDPF (2022-2025) and draw lessons to facilitate effective implementation of the next MTNDPF from 2026 to 2029.
The Framework would serve as the basis for the preparation and implementation of Medium-Term Development Plans by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The document would also serve as the inputs for MDAs, RCCs and MMDAs to prepare their annual budgets as stipulated in Section 21(5) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378).
Dr Eric Akobeng, the Director-General of the NDPC, during the launch of the evaluation exercise in Accra at the weekend, said the evaluation would focus on Social Protection, Child Protection, Education, Health, Nutrition, Job Creation, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. To be completed by April 2025, the exercise would be based on impact indicators of the current framework to draw useful lessons to improve the 2026-2029 edition.
Dr Akobeng said the review would also focus on improving institutional collaboration and promote sustainability in line with the Government’s agenda to reset the country for jobs, prosperity, and accountability. “The Commission is of the firm belief that the evaluation would unearth useful information that would set the tone for the development of a new MTNDPF that is reflective of the aspirations of the country,” he said.
Mr. Charles Dzradosi, Social Policy Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund, said the evaluation must examine whether the policies were equitable, human rights based, and disability inclusive. “The recent polycrisis, which has negatively impacted the most vulnerable, especially children, requires that the outcomes of the evaluation will forcefully convey the gaps and opportunities that need to be taken on board, as we prepare for the next NMTDPF.”
Source: GNA
