Parliament’s Committee on Economy and Development has commenced a review of the National Development Planning Commission’s (NDPC) Annual Progress Report (APR), with a focus on assessing how public institutions have translated government policies and budget allocations into measurable development outcomes.
The exercise is expected to bring Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), before the Committee to account for their performance during the period under review.
Speaking to the Parliamentary Press Corps on Friday, the Chairperson of the Committee, Eric Afful, said the review would examine the achievements, challenges, budget utilisation and implementation of programmes and projects by public institutions.
He said the exercise was not intended to punish institutions but to identify gaps, promote institutional learning and provide Parliament with evidence to improve policymaking and public service delivery.
“Institutions are expected to appear fully prepared, supported by technical officers, and ready to account comprehensively for the utilisation of public resources, the implementation of approved programmes and projects, and the outcomes achieved during the review period,” he said.
Institutions urged to take review seriously
Mr Afful formally invited Ministers, Chief Directors, Heads of Departments, Chief Executive Officers of agencies and heads of MMDAs to participate in the review.
He stressed that the invitations should be treated as a constitutional responsibility and urged institutions to provide accurate, timely and verifiable information on the use of public funds and the implementation of approved programmes.
The Committee warned that failure to honour invitations or provide the required information would be viewed seriously, particularly in the context of the government’s emphasis on transparency, accountability and results-oriented governance under the Resetting Agenda.
APR to guide parliamentary oversight
The Annual Progress Report is prepared annually by the NDPC to track the implementation of Ghana’s national development agenda.
It consolidates performance reports from MDAs and MMDAs, allowing Parliament to assess whether public resources approved through the national budget are being translated into the intended development outcomes.
The report also serves as a source of evidence for civil society organisations, development partners and the media in monitoring government performance and promoting public accountability.
The Committee said its review would provide institutions that have demonstrated innovation, efficiency and excellence with an opportunity to showcase their achievements.
Institutions facing implementation challenges, it added, would be engaged constructively to identify solutions, policy gaps and possible interventions.
Mr Afful assured the public that the process would be conducted fairly, objectively and transparently.
He said the findings and recommendations from the exercise would be used to strengthen public sector governance, improve policy implementation and enhance accountability in the management of public resources.
The Committee commended the NDPC for preparing the report and called on the media, civil society organisations and development partners to support the accountability process.
