LoGSAPP marks 2025 World Town Planning Day, urges action on sustainable urban development

The Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP) has marked the 2025 World Town Planning Day with a strong call to action for stakeholders to turn planning visions into tangible results.

Celebrated under the global theme “With Planning We Can,” the Association emphasized the need for deliberate efforts to implement climate-smart solutions, participatory planning, and community empowerment initiatives that yield real impact.

In a statement signed by Planner Gifty Nyarko, National President of LoGSAPP, and copied to the media, the Association urged policymakers, planners, community leaders, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, private sector actors, and international partners to work collectively to build sustainable and resilient cities.

Minimize disaster risks
LoGSAPP also appealed to planners, local authorities, development partners, and citizens to unite in creating cities that can withstand the effects of climate change and minimize disaster risks.

The statement highlighted that cities worldwide continue to grapple with rapid urbanization, climate change, environmental degradation, housing shortages, and infrastructure deficits. These challenges, LoGSAPP noted, call for innovative, collaborative, and forward-thinking planning strategies to transform urban spaces into sustainable growth engines.

The Association stressed that effective planning promotes equitable access to housing, mobility, and essential services, while protecting the environment and ensuring balanced economic development. It also called for the recruitment and empowerment of more female planners, urging that they be adequately resourced and supported to deliver on their mandates.

In an interview, Planner Gifty Nyarko, who also serves as the African Ambassador for Inclusive Urban Governance and Climate-Resilient Development, commended the Government of Ghana for its decision to allocate five percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund to spatial planning activities beginning in 2026.

She described the initiative as a bold and commendable step towards strengthening planning functions at the local level, emphasizing that planning is not merely technical but also economic, cultural, environmental, social, and strategic in nature.

Lack qualified physical planners
However, she expressed concern that some Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) still lack qualified physical planners and sufficient resources to effectively monitor physical development.

Planner Nyarko reiterated that through proper planning, nations can build inclusive, safe, and sustainable communities that ensure a better quality of life for present and future generations. She encouraged all planners to uphold integrity, professionalism, and dedication, emphasizing that the credibility of the profession rests on ethical practice and selfless service.

She further noted that Ghana continues to demonstrate leadership in sustainable spatial and urban development through innovative planning at the local, regional, and national levels. LoGSAPP, she reaffirmed, remains committed to promoting smart, green, and inclusive urban growth that can withstand the pressures of rapid urbanization and climate change.

Planner Nyarko concluded by reminding stakeholders that planning is a shared responsibility, and the World Town Planning Day provides a timely reminder to invest in planning, empower planners, and implement sustainable, inclusive solutions for the benefit of all.

“Our conviction as LoGSAPP is that with vision, courage, and collaboration, we can transform challenges into opportunities — and with planning, we can achieve the extraordinary,” she stated.