Urban Development Policies Must Translate Into Action- NDPC Boss
The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, says Ghana’s urban development policies and plans must translate into concrete action to achieve the desired changes in the country’s rapidly growing cities.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Centre for Urban Management Studies (CUMS) at the University of Ghana, Dr Smock Amoah said Ghana had no shortage of policies, legislation and planning frameworks on urban development, but the key gap was translating them into action.
“It is not about the absence of policies or legislation or documents. We have everything. It has more to do with translating these documents into real actions so that you will be able to see the desired change,” she said.
She noted that Ghana’s development frameworks, from Vision 2020 through the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy and subsequent development agendas, had consistently made provision for urban development.
She said planning institutions and authorities must localise these policies and ensure effective coordination in their implementation to achieve the desired change.
On smart cities, Dr Smock Amoah said the focus should go beyond technology to address everyday urban challenges, including congestion, mobility, slums and waste management.
“Good governance can be seen,” she said, adding that cities should enable people to move freely, access services and return home on time, while reducing pressure on central business districts.
The President of the Ghana Institute of Planning, Mr Anaab Bukari, reflecting on what a well-planned city should look like, observed that Ghana had a long history of urban planning, but the effectiveness of these plans depends on how well they are communicated, localised and implemented.
He emphasised the importance of translating plans into practical instruments at the local level, engaging communities and landowners, and strengthening approval and enforcement systems.
Other panel members also highlighted the importance of inclusive urban planning, noting that cities must accommodate people across different income and occupational groups, including those who provide essential services.
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