Development Economist Dr. Nii Moi Thompson has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) by President John Dramani Mahama, pending consultations with the Council of State.
The appointment marks a return to the NDPC for Dr Thompson, who previously served as the Director-General of the Commission, where he played a pivotal role in crafting Ghana’s ambitious 40-Year Development Plan.
Dr. Thompson, an internationally respected economist, has extensive experience in national and global development planning.
Notably, between 2014 and 2015, he led Ghana’s technical delegations to the United Nations to develop the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), subsequently guiding their integration into Ghana’s national development agenda.
The NDPC, a crucial institution within Ghana’s governance framework, was established under Articles 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution as part of the Executive.
Its operations are guided by the National Development Planning Commission Act, 1994 (Act 479), and the National Development Planning (System) Act, 1994 (Act 480).
These legal frameworks formally establish the NDPC and empower it as the national coordinating body for Ghana’s Decentralised Development Planning System.
Dr Nii Moi Thompson’s appointment is expected to bring strategic foresight and expertise to the Commission, reinforcing Ghana’s long-term economic planning and policy implementation.
As Chairman of the NDPC, Dr. Thompson will work closely with key stakeholders, including the Minister for Finance, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the Government Statistician, and other presidential appointees.
Additionally, he will engage representatives from all sixteen regions of Ghana to provide strategic advice to both the President and Parliament on the country’s development trajectory.
Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo Appointed Acting CEO of FIC
In another key appointment, President Mahama named Mr. Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) while awaiting the reconstitution of its board. Mr. Twum Boafo, a seasoned professional in civil engineering and finance, brings a wealth of experience to the role.
The Financial Intelligence Centre, established under Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008 (Act 749) as amended, serves as Ghana’s primary institution for monitoring and investigating financial transactions related to money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
The FIC has the legal authority to collect and analyze suspicious transaction reports, request additional information from financial institutions, and collaborate with other regulatory bodies to curb illicit financial activities.
As a former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority from 2009 to 2017, Mr Twum Boafo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Wales.
He also holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and an MBA in Finance and Investment Analysis from Stetson University in Florida, USA.
His expertise is expected to enhance the operational effectiveness of the FIC in tackling financial crimes and ensuring Ghana’s compliance with international anti-money laundering standards.
These high-profile appointments signal President Mahama’s commitment to reinforcing key national institutions responsible for economic planning and financial intelligence.
With Dr. Nii Moi Thompson at the helm of the NDPC and Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo overseeing the FIC, Ghana is poised to enhance its long-term development planning and financial crime prevention mechanisms.
The announcement of the two appointments was made by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP for Abura Asebu Kwanmankese and Acting Spokesperson to the President.
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