OTI REGIONAL MINISTER PARTICIPATES IN REVIEW OF PLANNING COORDINATION GUIDELINES
Dambai, Oti Region – This morning, the Oti Regional Minister, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong, joined officials of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and representatives of GIZ in a stakeholder engagement aimed at reviewing the Guidelines for the Operationalization of Regional Planning Coordinating Units (RPCUs) and District Planning Coordinating Units (DPCUs), originally issued in 2004.
The review forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Ghana’s decentralized planning system and ensure that planning and coordination mechanisms at both the regional and district levels remain responsive to current governance and development needs.
Since the publication of the guidelines over two decades ago, significant changes have taken place within Ghana’s decentralized planning framework. These include reforms in the legal and institutional environment, advancements in planning and budgeting processes, enhanced monitoring and evaluation requirements, and the growing adoption of digital systems in public sector management. Consequently, there is a pressing need to update the guidelines to reflect contemporary realities and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of RPCUs and DPCUs across the country.
The revised guidelines are expected to provide clearer direction for planning coordination, strengthen institutional collaboration, and support the implementation of national and regional development priorities.
As part of the review process, technical teams from the NDPC will undertake visits to Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) nationwide. These visits will facilitate broad-based stakeholder consultations with members of the RPCUs and DPCUs, enabling the Commission to gather valuable insights and recommendations for the development of a more robust and responsive operational framework.
Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong commended the NDPC and its development partners for initiating the review and reaffirmed the commitment of the Oti Regional Coordinating Council to supporting efforts aimed at enhancing planning, coordination, and sustainable development at all levels of governance.
The review process is expected to contribute significantly to strengthening Ghana’s decentralized planning architecture and improving the coordination and delivery of development interventions across regions and districts.
