The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and Presidential Advisor on the SDGs, Dr Nii Moi Thompson, has emphasised the importance of improving infrastructure governance and efficiency as part of Ghana’s long-term development plan.

Speaking on the Public Concern show on GTV, he explained that efforts to create a national infrastructure database began in 2015 but stalled along the way. Plans are, however, underway to revive the initiative to guide development decisions across the country. Future projects, he added, will be guided by key principles such as efficiency, equity, accessibility, durability and sustainability, principles that have not yet been properly systematised in Ghana’s infrastructure planning.

Dr Thompson cited several examples of inefficiency, including the long footbridge at Madina, which he described as poorly designed and inconvenient. He also raised concerns about the increasing number of high-rise buildings constructed without adequate parking spaces, emphasising the need to adopt standards similar to those in countries such as South Africa, where basement parking is required for most large buildings. The absence of such standards, he noted, has led to daily disruptions, for instance, churches built along busy roads that bring entire neighbourhoods to a standstill during services. These are among the infrastructure governance issues the NDPC plans to address to ensure more efficient and orderly urban development.

He stressed that strict compliance and effective monitoring will be crucial to the success of the new plan, expressing frustration over weak enforcement and the widespread disregard for rules. He described this lawlessness as a symptom of deeper institutional weaknesses, citing instances where police officers themselves ride motorbikes without helmets. Such behaviour, he said, sends the wrong message and undermines respect for the law.

He also criticised inefficient practices within public institutions, particularly among traffic police, who often abandon their duty of directing vehicles to check drivers’ documents during rush hours. This, he noted, wastes valuable time and resources that should be focused on easing congestion and improving traffic flow. As part of its new productivity enhancement programme, the NDPC plans to engage the security services to help them adopt more efficient practices and make better use of limited resources.

He clarified that productivity is not merely about increasing output but about the efficient use of available resources to achieve better results.

According to him, reviving the principles of efficiency, equity and sustainability will ensure that Ghana’s infrastructure serves the needs of its people and supports long-term national development.