The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Nii Moi Thompson, has proposed a new economic measurement framework, the “3D Growth,” arguing that Ghana’s development should be assessed not only by economic output but also by job creation and wage growth.
Speaking at the IYA Business Roundtable 2026 in Accra, Dr. Thompson said Ghana’s long-standing reliance on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the primary indicator of economic progress no longer provides a complete picture of national development.
He explained that the proposed model would place equal emphasis on three key indicators — GDP growth, employment creation, and wage growth — to ensure that economic expansion translates into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
“Growth without jobs is meaningless. Growth without rising incomes is unsustainable,” Dr. Thompson said.
According to him, measuring progress solely through GDP often overlooks critical factors such as employment opportunities, income levels and improvements in living standards.
He warned that without adopting the 3D Growth approach, economic growth could become increasingly disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary Ghanaians, particularly the thousands of young people entering the labour market each year.
Dr. Thompson highlighted structural challenges within the economy, noting that while about 92 percent of businesses operate in the informal sector and account for roughly 80 percent of employment, they contribute only about 27% of GDP.
He said addressing this imbalance would require a stronger focus on productivity, formalisation, and value addition across all sectors of the economy.
The NDPC Chairman also called for a broader assessment of infrastructure investments, arguing that projects should be evaluated not only by their physical completion but also by their impact on employment, efficiency, and long-term productivity.
He identified electricity, water systems, transport and logistics, and digital infrastructure as critical drivers of economic transformation, adding that their effectiveness depends on strong institutions and consistent implementation.
Beyond economic indicators, Dr. Thompson expressed concern about what he described as persistent weaknesses in policy execution, saying Ghana’s development efforts have often been undermined by poor coordination between planning and implementation.
He called for stronger alignment between national development plans and budgetary allocations, as well as greater accountability across public institutions to ensure development objectives are achieved.
Dr. Thompson said Ghana’s next phase of development should be guided by the principles of 3D Growth, where economic success is measured not only by the pace of GDP expansion but also by the number of jobs created, wages improved and living standards enhanced.
