The Management Development and Productivity Institute
(MDPI), led by its Director General, Professor Yendaw, has paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Staff at the Jubilee House to outline its strategic contributions to national development and discuss key areas of collaboration with the Presidency.
Welcoming the delegation, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah, acknowledged MDPI’s longstanding role in enhancing productivity and reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening institutions that drive efficiency and reform.
In his presentation, Professor Yendaw reiterated MDPI’s core mandate of providing research-based productivity services and capacity-building programs. He expressed concern over the absence of robust productivity metrics in Ghana and stressed the need for systematic monitoring to improve national performance.
He highlighted the Institute’s training programmes, which have attracted both local and international participants, and advocated for local training of public sector executives by MDPI as a cost-saving alternative to foreign courses. He emphasized the Institute’s readiness to play a pivotal role in the proposed 24-Hour Economy Policy and revealed that a concept paper has already been developed in this regard.
Professor Yendaw called for greater governmental support to enable MDPI lead a national mindset and attitudinal transformation campaign, describing this as essential for advancing the government’s broader reform agenda. He appealed for financial assistance to close the Institute’s funding gaps and also requested help in attracting and retaining skilled quantitative personnel.
He raised concerns about encroachment on MDPI’s land at Spintex and appealed for support in protecting and developing the property. He also shared the Institute’s efforts to build international partnerships with productivity institutions in Malaysia and Singapore. Additionally, he called attention to the outdated nature of MDPI’s Legislative Instrument (LI) and requested assistance in drafting a modern Act to expand and strengthen its operational capacity.
In response, the Chief of Staff reaffirmed the Presidency’s support and expressed optimism about the Institute’s transformational potential. He noted the historical irony of Malaysia, once a recipient of Ghana’s productivity expertise, now surpassing Ghana due to sustained national investment in its productivity institutions.
He tasked MDPI to take practical steps in developing a training programme for Presidential staff, preparing proposals to secure funding and re-establish its technical relevance in national policy-particularly the 24-Hour Economy -while also leading a government-endorsed, media-driven national campaign on mindset and attitudinal change.
The Legal Counsel to the President, Ms. Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, added her voice to the discussion, emphasizing the need for civic responsibility and institutional reform. She expressed concern about MDPI’s outdated legal framework and pledged her support in drafting a new legislative instrument to modernize the Institute’s operations.
This engagement signals a timely revival of MDPI’s mandate, positioning it as a key partner in Ghana’s transformation agenda and a catalyst for the successful implementation of the 24-Hour Economy and broader public sector reforms.
