MLGRD develops National Urban Policy

Accra, April 27, GNA - Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has developed a comprehensive National Urban Policy that woul= d functionally integrate social, economic, institutional, cultural, environmental and spatial aspects of urban development. Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Sector Minister, who announced this, explai= ned that national responses to urbanisation had been piecemeal and not sufficiently integrated and holistic. He was inaugurating the Functional Technical Working Group on Nation= al Urban Policy Formulation Process in Accra. Mr Yieleh Chireh noted that Ghana's population was growing at 2.7 pe= r cent per annum, urban population at 4.4 per cent and estimated that her population would reach 24 million by the end of 2010 and 50 per cent of which would live in urban areas. "This represents tremendous development potential and opportunities a= s well as presents problems and challenges", he added. Mr Yieleh Chireh pointed out that while most cities were driving the= ir respective national economies, Ghana's urban centres currently were the locus of extreme poverty, slum, chronic housing shortages, traffic congestion and environmental pollution, deteriorating basic services, increased social inequality and limited employment opportunities. He said another area of concern was how urban settlements were planne= d, the continuing sprawling of settlements without adequate infrastructure w= as disturbing, expensive to manage and unsustainable in the long term. "This cannot continue. We must find mechanism for ensuring that the development of our urban centres is well coordinated to warrant the efficient functioning of the settlements within businesses," he said. Mr Yieleh Chireh said to promote urbanisation as a catalyst for economic growth, social improvement and environmental sustainability; the=

Ministry would continue to undertake some urban development activities in=

addition to developing the national urban policy. These are: strengthening the Urban Development Unit (UDU) to spearhe= ad the co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation of urban development activit= ies in the country. Implementing a 40-million-Euro Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project at Ho, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale and Kumasi, to improve the livelihood of the=

people. Others are finalizing the draft manual for the implementation of str= eet naming and property addressing system to improve revenue mobilisation of the MMDAs. Preparing programme document for participatory slum upgrading and prevention for Accra and the establishment of Centre for Urban Transport as well as monitoring the implementation of urban passenger transport bye-la= ws of participatory MMDAs of the Urban Transport Project. Mr Ampaa Harrison, Chairman of Functional Technical Working Group sa= id the first urban policy was a big challenge to Ghana. He urged Ghana to emulate Nepal and Nigeria that had efficient urban=

policies for development.