President Mahama launches National Urban Policy

President John Mahama has launched a National Urban policy and Action Plan that seeks to stem the negative impact of urbanization especially in the capital, Accra.

The Policy and Action Plan will be replicated later in other parts of the country.

According to a 2012 report by the Population Division of the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Ghana has experienced rapid urbanisation over the past four decades, increasing from 23.0 per cent in 1960 to 43.8 per cent in 2000.

In 2010, approximately 51.5 per cent of the country's population were living in urban areas.

The urban policy and action plan is therefore aimed at addressing some of the fundamental challenges associated with urban development and management in the country as well as to better harness the benefits of urbanization.

President John Mahama says Ghana seriously needs this framework which projects into the future and help devise strategies that will help curb problems associated with migration into urban areas.

"If we do not put in place the governance systems to guide their development what is going to happen 10 or 20 years from now is that there will be a traffic gridlock and develop a situation in Nigeria sometime ago where you could use your car depending on your number (plate) whether it was odd or even".

The President has instructed the mayor of Accra to publicly announce the progress of this plan every year until it is fully executed.

He says he will not tolerate actions that will impede the execution of the plan.

President Mahama has also instructed the Local Government Minister and all Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to ensure that all streets are named and numbered in the next 18 months.

He said he would not accept any excuses.


Story by Ghana/Myjoyonline.comIEdwin Appiah