The Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing, has called for a unified and binding long-term national development plan to guide Ghana’s growth beyond political cycles.
He made the call on Monday, March 9, 2026, when the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) held a stakeholder engagement at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Wa to gather regional input into the country’s long-term development strategy.
The meeting brought together municipal and district assemblies, traditional leaders, and other key stakeholders from across the Upper West Region to deliberate on Ghana’s long-term development frameworks and how they can be harmonized into a single national blueprint.
In his welcoming remarks, Hon. Puozuing stressed that Ghana must move away from fragmented development policies that change with governments and instead adopt a stable long-term vision.
“The time has come for us to move beyond political cycles and embrace a stable, long-range development framework that focuses on structural transformation, inclusive economic growth, and strong governance systems. Our goal is to ensure that Ghana not only grows but does so sustainably and inclusively,” he said.
He noted that Ghana already has several long-term frameworks—including the 40-Year Long-Term National Development Plan, the Ghana Beyond Aid Charter, the Ghana@100 initiative, and Vision 2057—but emphasized the need to align them into one coherent strategy.
According to him, a harmonized development plan would strengthen coordination between national and local development efforts while ensuring policy continuity across successive governments.
“This engagement is not just about planning; it’s about turning aspirations into actionable realities that benefit every community, from bustling Wa to our remotest villages,” he said.
Hon. Puozuing urged local government officials and development stakeholders to actively contribute their ideas to ensure that the final plan reflects the realities of communities across the region.
“As we gather to examine our future today, let’s ensure that our local realities inform the national strategy. Your participation is crucial in shaping a plan that is not only realistic but also deeply rooted in the needs and aspirations of our people,” he added.
The Regional Minister also highlighted persistent development challenges facing the Upper West Region, including infrastructure deficits, limited economic opportunities, and socio-economic vulnerabilities.
He said a well-coordinated national development framework could help address these disparities and accelerate equitable development across all regions of the country.
“A strong national development plan must deliberately address regional inequalities and unlock the economic potential of every part of Ghana,” he noted.
The NDPC led by its Chairman Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, said the stakeholder consultations were critical to ensuring that the long-term development strategy reflects the views and aspirations of people at the local level.
“Regional consultations such as this are essential because development must be shaped by the lived realities of our communities,” he explained.
“The engagement forms part of a nationwide consultation process being undertaken by the NDPC to refine Ghana’s long-term development framework and ensure broad stakeholder ownership”, he added.
Meanwhile, participants from the municipal and district assemblies also emphasized the need for greater policy continuity and stronger integration of local development priorities into national planning.
The meeting also drew participation from the Upper West representative on the NDPC, District and Municipal Chief Executives and members of the Regional House of Chiefs.
Discussions focused on strengthening coordination between national and sub-national development planning and ensuring that Ghana’s long-term development agenda remains resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.
Source: www.kumasmail.com
