Accra, July 28, GNA - A six-member Advisory Committee for the Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD) was inaugurated on Tuesday with the mandate to develop effective and efficient planning schemes for the nation's towns and capital cities. The committee members include Mr Frank Tackie, President of the Ghana Institute of Planers, Mr Richard Acquah-Harrison, Senor Human Settlement Advisor (Rtd) of the United Nations Habitat and Mr Asare Baffour, Acting Director of the TCPD.

The rest are Mr C.N.K. Boateng, Former Director of TCPD and Mr Magnus Quarshie, Executive Member of Ghana Institute of Engineers. Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, who inaugurated the committee, said ineffective and inefficient planning of the nation's towns and capital cites had led to the numerous socio-economic problems the country was facing.

She said the key responsibilities of the committee would include, re-positioning of TCPD as the engine-room for leadership in integration development, ensuring inclusive and stakeholders participation in the planning process and staff promotion and recruitment based on merit. Ms Ayittey said: "The committee will help identify strategies for interventions in at least the key urban growth centres of Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast and Sekondi-Takoradi over a four-year period. "It will also ensure that planning and management of towns and cities gain prominence in public dialogue and take its rightful place in the national economic agenda".

She said the committee would ensure the active participation of the private sector and other professional bodies in the management of urban centres.

Ms Ayittey said lack of proper planning had made useless some good projects including the Odaw River drainage and other drainage works.

She said recent rains in the metropolis had exposed the problems and some works that were not properly done by the TCPD. Mr Steve Akuffo, Chairman of the Committee, promised the commitment of members to work hard to achieve its set objectives. He said; "Mostly we are able to identify the problem and symptoms but a little is done about the solution".