NDPC Director-General Emphasises Stronger Planning, Financing and Accountability for Sustainable Nutrition
The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, has called for stronger implementation, financing and reporting mechanisms to translate Ghana’s nutrition commitments into measurable results for women and children.
Dr Amoah made the call at a breakfast meeting on government leadership, health systems and nutrition held in Accra on Thursday, as part of the Micronutrient Forum Global Conference, held under the theme, “From Commitment to Action: Government Leadership for Sustainable Nutrition in Ghana.”
According to her, nutrition must be addressed across the different stages of the development planning process, from planning and budgeting to implementation and reporting.
She said the national development planning framework provided the basis for integrating nutrition priorities into programmes and budgets, but stressed the need to ensure that commitments were effectively implemented and monitored.
She noted that, “Whoever you are, the fact that you are in this room means that there is something we should be doing, and let us do it now,” urging stakeholders to move beyond commitments and focus on concrete actions.
The Executive Director of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), Dr Charity Binka, stated nutrition should be viewed beyond its health dimension, describing it as an investment in human capital and future development.
“Our mission should move from commitment to five-year priorities, from five-year priorities to implementation, and from implementation, we have to have measurable results,” she added.
A representative of the Eleanor Crook Foundation further explained that the meeting provided an opportunity for key stakeholders to examine Ghana’s efforts to address malnutrition and identify further actions needed to ensure that mothers and children had access to essential nutrition interventions.
Freda Marfo ISD
