NDPC, UNICEF Deepen Collaboration on Ghana’s Development Agenda
The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, has reiterated the Commission’s commitment to deepening its longstanding partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ghana to advance child-centred policies and accelerate Ghana’s national development agenda.
She said the partnership had become one of the Commission’s most reliable development collaborations, supporting national planning, policy coordination, monitoring and evaluation while helping to strengthen governance and accountability systems across the country.
Dr Smock Amoah gave the assurance when she received the newly appointed Deputy Representative of UNICEF Ghana, Ms Emmanuelle Collet, during a courtesy call at the Commission in Accra on Monday.
She said the relationship between the two institutions had grown steadily over the years because of shared values and a common commitment to improving the lives of Ghanaians, particularly children and vulnerable groups.
“Our work is organised around interconnected focus areas, and wherever people are concerned, development issues are linked. That is why our approach is aligned with the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Education, health, nutrition, disability inclusion and social protection are all national priorities, and our interventions are designed to support citizens across these dimensions,” she said.
Dr Smock Amoah commended UNICEF Ghana for its consistency and professionalism, describing the agency as one of NDPC’s most dependable development partners.
“With UNICEF, we have consistently enjoyed a strong and reliable partnership, which gives us confidence in pursuing our development objectives. We value the passion, commitment and professionalism that UNICEF continues to bring to this collaboration. Your visit gives us renewed assurance that we are working together towards a common purpose of reducing inequalities and advocating for those whose voices are often unheard,” she noted.
On behalf of UNICEF Ghana, the Deputy Representative, Ms Emmanuelle Collet, commended the Commission for the warm reception and said she was encouraged by the level of coordination and planning within the institution.
“I am truly impressed by the level of structure and coordination within the Commission. Please be assured that UNICEF remains fully committed to this partnership. It is an institutional relationship that has endured over time and is grounded in our shared development priorities. I look forward to working closely with NDPC so that, together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and communities across Ghana,” she said.
The directors of the Commission’s four-line divisions briefed the UNICEF delegation on NDPC’s constitutional mandate and its responsibility for coordinating Ghana’s national development planning framework.
They outlined ongoing areas of collaboration between the Commission and UNICEF, including child-focused planning, nutrition and food security, integrated social services, digital monitoring systems, Sustainable Development Goal reporting and child-sensitive policy development.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
