By: W. K. Ahorlu
THE AYAWASO Central Municipal Assembly has held a public stakeholder engagement to review and validate its Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) for 2026–2029.
Speaking at the event, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Ishmael Nana Ogyefo, explained that the meeting was to allow stakeholders to review the proposed activities put together by the Assembly’s technical team. These activities were initially suggested during earlier consultations held at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC).
According to him, some key proposals from the previous engagements had not been fully reflected in the draft plan. “This meeting gives all of us an opportunity to go through the document carefully and ensure that everything we agreed on has been included,” he said.
He emphasized that once the plan is finalized, it would not be returned for additional input, so it is crucial for stakeholders to validate the current draft and raise any concerns.
Mr. Ogyefo (‘Redeemer’) added that it is not uncommon for some stakeholders to miss the planning process, leading to complaints when certain activities are not captured. “If any activity has been left out, this is the time to bring it to our attention so we can include it,” he urged.
The current development plan, which covers 2021 to 2025, is nearing its end. The Assembly is therefore preparing the next phase, which spans 2026 to 2029.
He also outlined that, as part of the guidelines from the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), stakeholder validation is a key requirement. This includes meetings with various groups; such as women, youth, and the general public, to ensure inclusive planning.
Mr. Ogyefo said the Assembly is committed to addressing the gaps and emerging issues in the current plan by incorporating fresh ideas into the new one.
The next step, he noted, is to engage with more focused stakeholder groups, including gender-based consultations, to finalise the list of proposed activities before submitting the development plan.
The event forms part of the broader efforts by the Assembly to make local governance participatory and transparent.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
