The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, has called for stronger collaboration between the NDPC and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to promote civic responsibility and national values.
Speaking during discussions between the two institutions, Dr Amoah stated the close alignment of their mandates, stressing that effective national development requires active cooperation among citizens, government institutions and stakeholders at all levels.
She noted that the NDPC is currently undertaking efforts to consolidate several long-term development frameworks into a single comprehensive national plan to ensure coherence in policy implementation and national development efforts.
According to Dr Amoah, the initiative follows a directive from President John Dramani Mahama to harmonise existing development strategies into one unified framework that will guide the country’s future growth and transformation.
She explained that the proposed plan will focus on key areas, including economic transformation, job creation, governance reforms and social development.
Dr Amoah further emphasised that all national policies and development interventions must be anchored on the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
Highlighting the importance of inclusive planning, she said the Commission had engaged stakeholders across the country through consultations with regional and district-level actors to ensure broad participation in the development process.
She stressed the need for proper planning before the allocation of resources, warning that weak planning often leads to inefficiencies and waste.
Dr Amoah further advocated deeper collaboration with the NCCE to strengthen civic education and promote positive behavioural change among citizens.
According to her, the ultimate objective of civic education and national values campaigns is to influence attitudes and behaviours that support national development.
The Chairperson of the NCCE, Madam Kathleen Addy, commended the NDPC’s commitment to national development planning and welcomed the proposed collaboration.
She noted that one of the major challenges confronting national development initiatives is translating policy discussions into concrete action and maintaining momentum beyond the planning stage.
Madam Addy emphasised that meaningful behavioural change requires deliberate, evidence-based and scientifically informed approaches rather than relying solely on public awareness campaigns.
“Changing attitudes and behaviours requires deliberate, structured, and scientifically informed approaches,” she stated.
She reaffirmed the NCCE’s readiness to work closely with the NDPC in advancing civic education and implementing programmes aimed at promoting national values and behavioural transformation across the country.
Deborah Narkie Nartey, ISD
