The Director-General for the National Development Planning Commission, Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, has underscored the vital need to rethink and manage Ghana’s urban regions more efficiently.
He said this at the at the 2024 Ghana Urban Forum Journalism Academy yesterday in Accra highlighting a significant shift in Ghana’s urban development approach.
Dr. Mensah-Abrampa Reflecting on the country’s urban evolution noticed a shift away from an initial concentration on economic expansion towards a more holistic approach that includes social, environmental, and governance considerations.
“It brings to us how we define urban areas and how we shape it to be with our development process,” he added,
He stated the need for a more comprehensive understanding of urban areas beyond mere population counts, not just by head counts and not just by population.
The Director-General argued that current classifications of urban areas are insufficient for addressing modern urban complexities.
Dr. Mensah-Abrampa also raised concerns about the fragmented and uncoordinated management of urban centers in Ghana.
He questioned the responsibility and governance of the rapidly evolving urban landscape, asking, “Does it mean there is a no Minister for local government who is managing a crime?
He pointed out the consequences of this lack of coordination, such as the proliferation of specialized economic activities in isolated areas, which leads to inefficiencies and disruptions.
“Everybody is building a market; everybody is selling plantain. Everybody is creating a lorry park, everybody is creating an industrial area,” he lamented.
Dr. Mensah-Abrampa stressed the urgency of redefining urban areas to accommodate the projected population growth, with an estimated 57 million Ghanaians, three-quarters of whom will reside in urban contexts by 2057.
Experts and policymakers should work together to rethink the parameters and management structures for the country’s rapidly evolving urban landscape.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran,ISD
