DEPUTY Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to adopt bold, long-term planning strategies to address growing urban challenges.
Speaking at the launch of the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly’s (LaDMA) 12-year development plan in Accra, she pointed to issues such as poor drainage, weak land use enforcement, and unplanned development as major barriers to sustainable growth.
She commended LaDMA for setting a strong example by aligning its long-term vision with practical, community-based solutions.
Hon. Odoley Sowah reminded assemblies of their legal responsibility under the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act (Act 925) and the Local Governance Act (Act 936) to prepare and implement spatial and development plans—adding that many are lagging in delivery.
She introduced the Ghana Sustainable Cities Strategy, which encourages assemblies to collaborate across boundaries to solve shared problems like sanitation, transport, housing, and flooding. “No assembly is an island,” she stressed. “We must plan regionally and act locally.”
The Deputy Minister also called for greater public support for the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, urging everyone to move from talk to action. “This is not just about plans on paper—it’s about improving the lives of our people,” she said.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
