Oumar Sylla, the Regional Director for Africa at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), is on a visit to Ghana from May 19 to May 24, 2024. The visit, marked by a courtesy call on the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) which aims to strengthen collaboration on sustainable urban development.

Hon. Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, who also serves as the Vice President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, welcoming Mr. Sylla, acknowledged the significant technical assistance UN-Habitat has provided over the years.

He highlighted the support received for the National Urban Policy and Action Plan initiated in 2012, and the forthcoming National Urban Policy and Implementation Plan for 2024-2033, both developed with UN-Habitat’s expertise.

The Minister also noted the development of the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy with UN-Habitat's help, aimed at integrating and preventing the growth of slums.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to sustainable urban development, the Minister emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with UN-Habitat.

Mr. Sylla’s visit signifies a strong partnership and a shared vision for sustainable urban growth in Ghana.

Source   HUMBLE OWUSU YEBOAH (MLGDRD PUBLIC RELATION UNIT)

The Ministry of Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development has organized a refresher training for 35 participating assemblies under the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Program (GSCSP).

The training aimed to prepare the assemblies for their 5th Annual Performance Assessment (APA) on indicators in their annual work plans, with a focus on urban resilience.

 The APA is an important exercise that ensures and hold duty bearers responsible and accountable for the execution of infrastructure projects and implementation of action plans to transform emerging towns and cities into well-established municipalities.

The training is a crucial step towards achieving the program's development objectives, which align with the government's vision for sustainable urban development.

The Ghana Secondary Cities Support program seeks to improve urban services in participating Municipal Assemblies (MAs) and enhance their output and resilience.

Source:  Humble Owusu Yeboah & Darling Maame Efua Cann.

A team from the World Bank, led by Madhu Ragunath, Project Manager of the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme (GSCSP) and the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD)  is embarking on a 5-Day Implementation Support Mission (ISM) field visit in some northern parts of Ghana on the GSCSP.

The field visit which forms part of efforts geared towards a systematic assessment of progress of the project and ultimately ensuring its successful implementation is expected to cover the Northern, North East and Upper East regions.

On Tuesday, May 14, the team kickstarted the field visit in the Northern region by visiting the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, a beneficiary of the project and assessed them based on the interventions. Some project sites in Yendi, in the Northern region were also inspected, and recommendations given.

The project sites inspected at Yendi include the construction site of a 2-storey 60No. Lockable stores at the Yendi Central Market, Paving of walkways, Car and Lorry Park at the Yendi Central Market and a Construction of 0.45 Kumfong Link Road and the Provision of Pedestrian Lay-Bys in Yendi.

Addressing the Beneficiaries in the Northern region, the Project Manager of the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme (GSCSP), Madhu Ragunath encouraged a holistic approach to every aspect of project implementation to maximise project success.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ahmed Yussuf Abubakar in a closing remark appreciated the World Bank and the Ministry for the numerous interventions in the region and pledged unwavering commitment to ensuring a successful completion of the very project in his jurisdiction.

The development objective of the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Program (GSCSP) Project is to improve urban management and basic urban services in participating Municipal Assemblies (MAs) and it is funded by the Government of Ghana with credit funding from the World Bank.

Source: SANDRA OWUSU ASAMOAH

   (Public Relations Unit, MLGDRD)