Minister launches Urban Buck up Initiative Programme

Accra, July 14, GNA - Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has proposed the establishment of an Advisory Group to advise Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs on how to resolve the problems of urbanisation.

The Group who would be working at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) would include representatives from civil society to provide useful inputs from problems faced and perceived needs and aspirations of the citizenry in addressing urbanisation.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the proposal at the launching of Urban Back up Initiatives organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) in collaboration with the German Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development in Accra.

The Initiative will empower local authorities to adequately manage pro-poor Urban Development Processes to improve living conditions for the urban poor in Ghana and is expected to impact on municipal support system.

Ten cities and towns have been selected for the Initiative, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Tamale, Wa, Techiman, Bolgatanga, Elmina, Swedru, Suhum and Aflao.

He explained that such structured arrangement would provide good interface between government and the citizenry as well as help address their challenges.

The Sector Minister noted that the problems of rapid urbanisation had put stress on cities and towns suffering from major inadequacies in infrastructure, service provision and expressed happiness of the Initiative, which would address the numerous challenges.

He urged MMDAs to take advantage of the Initiative and prepare long term city development strategic plans, prioritise infrastructure investment plans for their various cities and prepare project proposals for possible funding.

Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye, Director of ILGS, said the Initiative was an important intervention in the efforts to fulfil responsibilities in the sector.

Mr Bless Kwame Darke, Initiative Coordinator, said the overall objective was to support secondary and tertiary cities in urban development processes to improve living conditions for the urban poor.

He explained that the Initiative would in addition strengthen strategic spatial and human settlement planning skills of local government staff to proactively manage inclusive urbanisation.

It would also strengthen local government to strategically lead and manage inclusive cities that maximise the potential of urbanisation.

Mr Darke said it was expected that specific pro-poor urban management, planning and implementing skills would be developed at the local level to improve service delivery, design and realise development projects with focus on urban poverty alleviation.