Over-concentration of resources in urban centres stifling national economic progress – Nii Moi Thompson

Dr. Nii Moi Thompson is the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC). He emphasized local economic development's importance for national progress.

He spoke at the 2025 Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany. Dr. Thompson is also a Senior Advisor to the President on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted the need for decentralized economic strategies to promote equitable growth.

According to Dr. Thompson, Ghana’s economy consists of many local economies. Therefore, development efforts should start at the grassroots level. He stated, "Every national development strategy must be situated within local economic development."

He added that strengthening the national economy requires starting locally. Dr. Thompson warned against concentrating resources in urban areas like Accra. This approach can hinder broader economic progress.

"You cannot strengthen your national economy in Accra alone," he said. "At some point, it becomes counterproductive." He noted that over-focusing on Accra leaves other regions deprived.

Dr. Thompson revealed that NDPC prioritizes local economic development in its planning strategies. He reiterated this commitment during a recent launch of the commission.

"Attention to local economic development is key," he stated. "We will not advance as a nation without focusing on it."

He criticized current practices where contracts signed in Accra divert resources from poorer districts. This system benefits only a few businesses in the capital.

"We're not going anywhere by siphoning wealth from poor districts," he said. "It's unfair and ultimately counterproductive."

At the conference, Dr. Thompson participated in two sessions: “Navigating Sustainability and International Cooperation” and “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI.”