Correspondence from the Eastern Region

The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has inaugurated District Spatial Planning Committees (DSPCs) and their Technical Sub-Committees across all 33 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Eastern Region.

The inaugurations, held on November 6 and 7, 2025, were organised on a zonal basis covering Oda, Mpraeso, Lower Manya Krobo, Nsawam, and Koforidua, as part of a regional initiative aimed at promoting orderly development, sustainability, and climate resilience across the Eastern Region.

In her address, the minister described the event as “a defining moment in the region’s development journey,” emphasising that the establishment of the committees marks a collective pledge to build orderly, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient communities.

She urged the newly inaugurated members to view their mandate not as a ceremonial formality but as a strategic responsibility that directly shapes the physical and economic transformation of their districts.

“Orderly planned communities are not only a credit to our Assemblies,” she said, “but also enhance our performance in the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) and the Performance Contract.”

According to the minister, district spatial planning serves as the foundation upon which all physical developments revolve, providing direction for land use, housing, transport systems, economic zones, and environmental protection.

She explained that while the District Spatial Planning Committees offer strategic guidance, the Technical Sub-Committees are expected to translate policy into practical, implementable spatial plans guided by data, technical rigor, and stakeholder collaboration.

Adjei Awatey outlined four core principles to guide the committees’ work: These include participatory Planning – ensuring inclusivity and public involvement in decision-making, transparency – establishing clear processes and possibly creating public data rooms for citizens to access spatial plans, sustainability – integrating nature-based solutions that balance development with ecological health and resilience – designing plans that withstand climate and economic shocks.

She further encouraged Assemblies to build robust spatial data platforms integrating land records, cadastral information, transportation models, and environmental baselines.



Such systems, she said, would enable better decision-making, reduce urban congestion, and ensure effective monitoring through clear performance indicators.

“As you embark on this journey,” the Minister added, “I call on all members and stakeholders to work with integrity, professionalism, and shared purpose. Together, we can turn our collective aspirations into smarter cities, liveable towns, and resilient districts.”

The Regional Director of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Maxwell Amponsah, commended the Regional Coordinating Council for successfully inaugurating all 33 district committees and their technical subcommittees within the stipulated timeframe.

He explained that the exercise fulfills Section 1 of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Regulation, 2019 (LI 2384), which mandates the establishment of regional and district spatial planning structures within 120 days after the inauguration of the regional body.

The regional committee had earlier been inaugurated on July 17, 2025.

Amponsah noted that spatial planning has become a crucial tool for climate change mitigation and disaster prevention, stressing that the committees are now fully empowered by law to prepare spatial plans that guide human settlement and development.

During the ceremony, the minister administered the Official Oath, Oath of Secrecy, and Oath of Allegiance to committee members, including chairpersons, secretaries, and representatives from key departments.

Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), District Coordinating Directors, and other stakeholders attended the ceremonies, which symbolised the Eastern Region’s renewed commitment to sustainable spatial governance and orderly development.