International Community commends Ghana development initiatives

By Amadu Kamil Sanah, GNA Special Correspondent, Quito, Ecuador, Courtesy Zoomlion Ghana

Quito (Ecuador), Oct. 20, GNA - Ghana has been commended by the International Community for its policies, programmes, projects and strategies on the country's Urban Development initiatives at the United Nations Housing and Sustainable Development Habitat III) Conference in Quito, Ecuador.

The commendation was made after a panel presentation by Mr Sylvanus Kofi Adzornu, the Head of the Urban Development Unit, at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development at the country side event organised by the Ministry at the Habitat III Conference.

The panel also included Mr Kofi Yeboah, Physical Planner at Ningo-Prampram, Mr Aloycious N. Bongwa, Technical Adviser and Team leader of Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project (GUMPP), and Mr Mahama Mohammed Adams, Zoomlion Ghana and a statement by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr Charles K. Dondieu, who led the Ghana's delegation.

The side event was on the theme: Urban Development Management in Ghana and Implications for the New Urban Agenda: 'The Case Study of the Urban Management Pilot Programme and the National Priority Planned City Extension of Ningo-Prampram.

The panel was moderated by Dr Isaac F. Mensah-Bonsu at the National Development Planning Commission.

On the topic Urban Development Management in Ghana and Implications for the New Urban Agenda, Mr Adzornu said linkages to the New Urban Agenda (NUA) for Ghana was to review appropriate policies and framework in accordance with NUA and incorporating it into all levels of planning.

It was also from a partnership especially with the private sector and development partners to ensure efficient service delivery, localise and adopt Sustainable Development Goals and other international frameworks and involve the marginalised in planning especially slum dwellers and disabled.

Mr Adzornu said the Ministry in working with partners was preparing to review the National Urban Policy and Action Plan and other relevant policy frameworks, Preparation of a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the National Urban Policy, Preparation of an Investment Plan for the National Urban Policy and Action Plan and GAP Analysis.

The Head of the Urban Development Unit said GUMPP was a 44.5million Euros Government - AFD Urban Development programme and targets four selected cities including Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale and Ho as its pilot stage, seeking to promote a comprehensive/city-wide approach to urban issues, within the framework of the draft National Urban Policy (NUP) and its action plan.

Mr Adzornu said the objectives of the GUMPP was to implement urban development programme in four secondary cities allowing for a widespread access to essential services at the desired level and quality and to build the financial, management and ownership capacities of the four selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

'It is also to support economic activities and enhance the revenue collection capacity of local governments for increased local internally generated funds and strengthen MMDA's urban planning capacities, thus limiting the negative impact of urban sprawl on peripheral eco-systems.'

Mr Adzornu called on the international community for partnership in knowledge exchange and also identify Housing Development, Local Governance Framework, Fiscal Decentralisation, Urban Services Provision, Transportation, Urban Development Expansion, Energy, Natural Resource Management, Water and Sanitation Management and Policy Formulation as the potential areas of collaboration and partnerships with other countries.

GNA