Experts Brainstorm On City Planning

A five-day workshop that explored participatory planning and citizens' initiative as part of new methods in city planning ended last week in Accra.

The workshop, which was sponsored by the Goethe Institut Inter Nationes in Accra, was moderated by two German city planners, Alf Bremer and Christian Porst.

Participants, who were drawn from District Councils, Ministry of Health, Development Agencies, Non Governmental Organisations and the German Development Service, held frank and open discussions on several tools and techniques on the use of particpatory methods in development projects.

Among the specific areas discussed were "Effective Mobilisation and Sensitisation of People on Planned Projects", "Conflict Resolution between Development Organisations and the Community", "Waste Collection and Management" and "Effective Communication and Co-operation among all Stakeholders in Planning".

The workshop, which included Ghanaians trained in Germany, deliberated on specific case studies including door to door refuse collection at the Ga Mashie area in Accra, a community development project underconstruction in Ada and conflicts between mining companies and communities.

"The workshop was not about teaching people - it was an exchange of ideas and experience among experts from various fields. The participatory approach is very important because it enables external experts to understand and appreciate local problems and challenges," said Alf Bremer and Christian Porst.

"The participatory method brings together all stake holders without marginalising less powerful groups - it will ensure mutual satisfaction of all parties.

"This approach must be employed in planning that will involve the grassroots," added Christiana Asmah, a lecturer at the Department of Archtitecture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

The Director of the Goethe Institut Inter Nationes in Accra, Dr. Petra Raymond, expressed her appreciation for the participation of experts from different fields. Dr. Raymond praised the Ghana Institute of Architects for offering their premises for the workshop.