The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has raised concern over the prolonged delays in the completion of capital projects across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the Commission, several projects have exceeded their planned completion timelines by years, leading to a major escalation in costs.
The 2024 National Annual Progress Report, launched in Accra on Monday, revealed that the total contract cost of 17,993 capital projects increased from GH¢434.8 billion to GH¢505.1 billion in 2024 — an overrun of about GH¢70 billion.
The report attributed the delays largely to macroeconomic challenges, including:
- Low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth
- High inflation
- Instability in the exchange rate
Minerals sector performance
The report also showed that 343 mineral rights were granted to various companies last year.
Ghana produced 5,509,239 ounces of gold in 2024, up from 3,938,792 ounces in 2023, maintaining its position as Africa’s leading gold producer.
Additionally, the total value of mineral production, including gold, bauxite, manganese and diamonds, increased by 54.6 per cent, reaching US$11.9 billion in 2024.
Report focus and data sources
The NDPC report assessed progress in key sectors such as:
- Education
- Health
- Economy
- Infrastructure
- Governance
It also highlighted challenges affecting these sectors.
Data for the report was drawn from secondary sources such as:
- Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs)
- Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs)
- Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)
Extractive sector jobs and concerns
Presenting the findings, the Chief Analyst of the Commission, Mr. Kwesi Eweh, underscored the importance of investment in the extractive industry, noting that it created over one million jobs last year.
However, he cautioned that illegal small-scale mining remained a serious concern requiring urgent attention.
Calls for continuity, accountability, and integrity
The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, described the report as the most reliable source for assessing government performance.
He criticised the lack of continuity in projects by successive governments and condemned the misuse of state resources, citing examples such as the use of ambulances to transport foodstuffs.
Dr. Thompson disclosed plans to introduce:
- The Ghana Infrastructure Plan to tackle infrastructural challenges
- The Good Society Campaign, which will promote integrity in public life
He also called for an independent audit of reports submitted by MMDAs, citing possible inaccuracies or bias. He further stressed the role of the media in helping the public understand the technical details of the report.
Stakeholders urged to act
The Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, appealed to stakeholders and relevant institutions to use the report as a guide to improve national development.
BY BENJAMIN RCTON-TETTEY & ALBERTA BONSI
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