Government gets US 175 million to strengthen local government planning.

Koforidua, Aug 9, GNA - Government has acquired funding to the tune of 175 million US Dollars, to embark on Capacity Development of Local Government and Support Programme(CDLGASP) for 46 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

The programme is aimed at building and strengthening the capacities of human resource and logistics for the beneficiary assemblies to improve the planning system, for the benefit of the people.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Minster of Local Government and Rural Development, announced this at the first anniversary of the installation of Nana Okoawia Dwomo Babu, as the Chief of Effiduase, in the New Juaben Traditional area, at the weekend.

The Minister indicated that, the key areas that would see massive improvement under the programme, is effective street naming and identification, to help in the combat of crime.

He said currently, the planning system in Ghana was not the best and the capacity development support programme would ensure a good layout for building, in terms of acquisition of permits and leaving spaces for other resourceful ventures such as recreational centres.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also hinted that the Ministry was planning to develop the postcode system to migrate it into the international postcode system.

According to the Minster, the provision of recreational centres had not been factored into the planning of most assemblies and indicated that, “most assemblies planning had been so haphazard that, there was no space for anything.”

He said the New Juaben Assembly was part of the beneficiary assemblies and urged the chiefs and people to support the policies of government to help improve the lives of the people.