NDPC Commences Review of Guidelines to Strengthen Regional and District Planning Coordination Units
The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has commenced the review of the Guidelines for the Operationalisation of the Regional Planning Coordinating Units (RPCUs) and District Planning Coordinating Units (DPCUs), marking a significant step towards strengthening Ghana’s decentralised planning system and improving coordination, accountability and development planning at the regional and district levels.
The inception meeting, held on Thursday, 2 July 2026, at the NDPC Conference Room, brought together senior representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), development partners and planning professionals to discuss the scope, methodology and implementation arrangements for the review.
In her opening remarks, the Director-General of NDPC, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah welcomed participants and underscored the importance of drawing on their diverse expertise to develop a practical and forward-looking guideline. She noted that the existing document, jointly developed by NDPC and the then Ministry of Local Government in 2004, has guided the planning, research, monitoring and evaluation functions of RPCUs and DPCUs for more than two decades. “A document that has been in use for over 20 years you would agree with me that we must work on it,” she said.
Dr. Amoah explained that Ghana’s planning and local governance landscape has evolved significantly over the years, driven by legislative reforms, institutional changes and the expansion of the Local Government Service. She noted that developments such as the Local Governance Act and Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2232 make it necessary to update the guidelines to ensure they remain relevant, legally aligned and responsive to emerging development priorities. She encouraged participants to contribute their expertise towards producing a document that will effectively guide planning professionals and district authorities across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Ms. Laetitia Erny, Head of Component Data Management for Local Governance PAIReD, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the review as part of its longstanding partnership with NDPC to strengthen Ghana’s decentralised planning framework.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Samuel Seth Passah, Director for Local Governance and Decentralisation emphasised the critical role of Regional Coordinating Councils in providing technical oversight and coordinating development across districts.
He observed that although the legal framework clearly defines the functions of RPCUs, emerging development challenges—including rapid urbanisation, flooding and cross-boundary planning issues—require a more robust and forward-looking operational framework.
“We need to revisit these issues. The document should be futuristic,” he said, urging stakeholders to anticipate future institutional changes in the revised guidelines. He further stressed the need to strengthen the oversight capacity of Regional Coordinating Councils and improve coordination between central and local government institutions to achieve better regional development outcomes.
Presenting the rationale for the review, Ms. Vera Baffoe, a Prinicipal Planning Analyst at the Commission explained that the exercise seeks to produce a harmonised and legally aligned guideline that clearly defines institutional roles, strengthens planning coordination, improves monitoring systems and enhances accountability across all levels of government. She added that the revised guidelines will incorporate recent reforms, align with existing legislation and planning frameworks, and promote integrated planning through strengthened information management systems.
