The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, concluded its validation workshop on the draft 2025 National Annual Progress Report (APR), with a strong call on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to improve data quality, compliance and dissemination of development outcomes.

The workshop formed part of the Commission’s assessment of implementation progress under the 2022–2025 medium-term national development policy framework, and brought together representatives from MDAs, RCCs, CSOs, and academia to validate data and review draft write-ups for the various dimensions.

Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Director-General, Mr. Bright Atiase, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at NDPC, noted that the APR process must go beyond routine reporting and become an effective tool for accountability, planning and national development monitoring.

According to him, many institutions have over the years treated the submission of Annual Progress Reports (APRs) and Annual Budget performance Reports as mere procedural obligations instead of appreciating their strategic importance. “Going forward, this cannot continue to be business as usual. The APR is not merely a reporting requirement; it is one of the most important monitoring and evaluation instruments we use to assess implementation of our national development plans,” he stated.

He further expressed concern over delays in the submission of APRs despite statutory timelines guiding the reporting process, warning that stricter compliance measures would be enforced moving forward. “By law, APRs are expected to be submitted by the end of January each year, yet as of today, several institutions have still not submitted their reports. Going forward, the Commission will formally notify defaulting institutions, copy the Presidency and Parliament where necessary, and publish names of non-compliant institutions on our platforms to ensure accountability,” Mr. Attiase cautioned.

He explained that the current APR exercise was particularly significant because it serves as the terminal report for the 2022–2025 policy framework and would provide baseline data for the next national development framework.

Mr. Isaac Eweh, in his presentation said the National Annual Progress Report provides a structured platform for institutions to share implementation results, assess achievements and challenges, and demonstrate accountability in the use of public resources. “These reports are consolidated to tell the progress Ghana is making, the gaps that still exist, and the interventions required moving forward,” he said.