The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), with support from Results for Development (R4D), World Bank, and UNICEF Ghana, has successfully conducted a two-day pilot workshop to strengthen district-level capacity for food systems and nutrition programming.

The workshop was held from 15 to 16 April 2026 at Aqua Safari Hotel, Ada.

The pilot brought together district-level officials responsible for planning, budgeting, health, nutrition, agriculture, education, and social welfare from Ada East, Ningo-Prampram, and South Tongu. Technical representatives from key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) also participated, providing sector-specific guidance to support integrated and effective local-level programming.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Director-General of NDPC, Mrs. Alice Amekudzi underscored the central role of food systems and nutrition in Ghana’s development agenda. She noted that despite notable policy progress, the country continues to face a triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies—largely driven by food systems that are not sufficiently resilient, inclusive, or nutrition-responsive.

She emphasised the need for coordinated, data-driven, and multi-sectoral approaches at the district level, where planning decisions directly translate into development outcomes.

Mrs. Amekudzi further highlighted that the workshop was designed as a practical, results-oriented exercise to equip district officials with analytical tools to develop evidence-based, costed, and implementable programmes aligned with the Medium-Term Development Plans. She encouraged active participation and cross-sectoral collaboration, noting that lessons from the pilot would inform national scale-up.

Technical sessions were led by NDPC officials, including Mr. Nii-Odoi Odotei and Mr. Daniel Amofa, who provided an overview of the food systems and nutrition priority area under Ghana’s 2026–2029 Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework. They also presented district-level assessments for the three participating districts.

The sessions reinforced the critical role of nutrition in improving health outcomes, enhancing productivity, and supporting economic growth, while highlighting the significant economic costs associated with malnutrition. District teams were guided through practical tools and methodologies for conducting situational analyses, prioritising key challenges, and developing evidence-based, multi-sectoral programmes.

In a statement delivered on behalf of the District Chief Executive, the Ada East District Coordinating Director, Madam Jean Ameley Tagoe, commended NDPC and its partners for selecting the district as part of the national pilot.

She described the initiative as timely and strategic, particularly in addressing persistent nutrition challenges within the district and the broader region. Despite the availability of food resources, she noted that poor nutrition outcomes remain prevalent, especially among children and women of reproductive age. She further observed that many interventions are implemented in isolation, underscoring the importance of the integrated, multi-sectoral approach promoted through the workshop.

Madam Tagoe emphasised the pivotal role of district-level planning in translating national policies into impactful local actions, describing the district as the most effective entry point for addressing food systems and nutrition challenges. She called on participating officers to take full ownership of the process and ensure that the outcomes of the workshop are reflected in district development priorities and programmes.

The pilot workshop forms part of NDPC’s broader efforts to strengthen decentralised planning systems and accelerate progress towards improved nutrition outcomes and sustainable food systems in Ghana.