The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has launched the 2024 National Annual Progress Report (APR), assessing Ghana’s performance under the Agenda for Jobs II (2022–2025) framework.

The report offers a detailed evaluation of the country’s progress toward national development goals, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and policy directions.

According to the report, Ghana’s economy displayed notable resilience in 2024, with gains in monetary stability, fiscal management, and external trade.

The nation recorded a trade surplus of $4.98 billion, largely attributed to increased gold exports.

Growth in the services, agriculture, and extractive sectors also remained robust, enabling Ghana to maintain its position as Africa’s leading gold producer.

However, the report underscores enduring structural weaknesses such as low domestic revenue mobilisation, high public debt, and limited industrial diversification, which continue to hinder sustainable and inclusive economic growth. It also pointed to challenges, including poor infrastructure maintenance, a growing housing deficit, and environmental degradation.

On the social front, the APR highlights progress in education, healthcare, and social protection, citing programmes like the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) and the School Feeding Programme as examples of ongoing success.

Efforts to promote gender equality, strengthen local governance, and enhance public sector efficiency have also recorded measurable improvements.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Director-General of the NDPC, described the report as a critical strategic tool for guiding national development action.

She urged policymakers, development partners, and civil society to engage with the findings to promote inclusive and evidence-based decision-making as the country approaches the final year of the Agenda for Jobs II framework.

The Chairman of the NDPC and Presidential Advisor on the SDGs, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, emphasised that the APR remains the most credible and comprehensive source of data on Ghana’s development performance.

He encouraged journalists to focus on the report’s findings rather than political rhetoric, stressing the media’s role in translating evidence into advocacy, combating misinformation, and mobilising support for key national priorities.