Africa/Asia Urban Development seminar ends

An international seminar on the current challenges confronting sub-Sahara African countries in urban development such as population explosion, land planning and waste management has ended in Ghana.

The seminar, which focused on Urban Development in Asia and Africa, sought to explore the Asian experiences in dealing with urban developmental challenges. Asian countries in 1980s and 1990s confronted the challenges and now have good urban planning systems, a statement issued by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday stated.

The seminar was organized by JICA in collaboration with the Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD) under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST).

It was attended by governmental delegates from Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Vietnam.

According to the statement JICA is supporting the Government of Ghana on a Comprehensive Urban Development project, which is being implemented in Kumasi. JICA had already facilitated two similar international seminars in Dakar-Senegal in November 2011 and Hanoi- Vietnam in February 2012.

According to the statement, the delegates from Senegal and Ivory Coast made presentations on future urban development projects while those from Vietnam made a presentation on their observation on Kumasi Township.

Mr. Asiedu Poku, National Director of TCPD, said it was very important to involve people in town and country planning.

Dr. Samba Diouf, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Town Planning and Housing in Senegal, advised the participants to include the informal sector in future urban planning.