At the apex of the national development planning system is the (NDPC), charged with the responsibility for ensuring consistency and continuity in the framing and execution of development policy for the entire country.

Set up by the promulgation of the National Development Planning Commission Act, 1994 (Act 479), the NDPC was set up with the aim of advising the President on development planning policy and strategy and based on a request of the President, Parliament or its own initiative.

The NDPC in keeping up with its mandate prepares guideline for the preparation of District Development Plans and Sector Plans. It also formulates comprehensive national development planning strategies and ensures that the strategies including consequential policies and programmes are effectively carried out. It also makes proposals for ensuring the even development of the districts of Ghana by the effective utilisation of available resources;
The membership of the NDPC includes a Chairman appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State; a Vice Chairman elected by the members from among their number, the Minister responsible for Finance and such other Ministers of State as the President may appoint. It also includes the Government Statistician, the Director-General, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, One representative from each region of Ghana appointed by the Regional Coordinating Council of the region who shall have experience in development planning; and such other persons as may be appointed by the President having regard to their knowledge and experience of the relevant areas and roles pertaining to development, and to economic, social, environmental and spatial planning.
The NDPC was partnered in the Participatory Planning and Budgeting leading to Community Action Plans and Multi-stakeholder Contracts in STMA.