The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), in collaboration with key stakeholders, has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a cornerstone of the country’s human capital agenda.

Speaking at the THRIVE National ECD Stakeholders Meeting held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Accra, under the THRIVE Ghana Initiative, the Director-General of NDPC, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah highlighted the strategic importance of early childhood investments to Ghana’s long-term socio-economic transformation.

“Ghana’s quest for socio-economic transformation cannot be separated from its commitment to human capital development, and early childhood is the foundation,” the Director-General stated.
The Director-General highlighted that despite global attention, millions of children remain at risk of not reaching their full developmental potential, stressing that the challenge persists both globally and locally.

“These are not merely social statistics; they are economic signals with long-lasting implications if we fail to act,” the Director-General emphasised.

Citing national data, the Director-General noted that 17 percent of children under five in Ghana are stunted, with broader risks linked to multidimensional poverty and unequal access to essential services.

She further disclosed that the Commission is currently leading the development of a Human Capital Development Strategy, anchored on the principle that the quality of Ghana’s future growth depends on investments made in early childhood.

“The THRIVE Ghana initiative contributes directly to this effort by generating robust evidence on what works in Early Childhood Development,” the Director-General added.

Delivering a presentation, Mr. Peter Porekuu, Chief Analyst of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) emphasised the central role of data in effective governance and development planning. He noted that “data is at the centre of this effort” and stressed that it is not enough to simply collect data, but it must be made accessible, relevant, and effectively used by all stakeholders. 

According to him, every actor in the development space from policymakers to communities relies on data for decision-making, planning, and implementation, making data quality and accessibility critical for achieving better outcomes. 

He further called for stronger coordination and improved systems to ensure that data is harmonised across sectors, enabling more effective monitoring, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making to ultimately improve development results.

The meeting brought together stakeholders to review the THRIVE Ghana Research Strategy, share sectoral lessons, and explore pathways for partnerships and sustainability in ECD. The dialogue aligns with Ghana’s current development frameworks, including the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (2025–2029) and the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework (2026–2029).