Upper East Assemblies strengthen capacity to integrate energy efficiency into building permit system

Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Upper East Region are strengthening their capacity to integrate energy efficiency measures into Ghana's building permit approval system through a training and consultation workshop held in Bolgatanga.

The workshop, organised through a collaboration between the Office of the Head of Local Government Service (OHLGS) and the Energy Commission, brought together officials from the Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Economic Planning Office and representatives of Municipal and District Assemblies.

The initiative forms part of national efforts to improve sustainable building practices and enhance service delivery through existing local governance structures.

Speaking on behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, the Upper East Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Issahaku, described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening the country's building permit system.

He commended the Office of the Head of Local Government Service and the Energy Commission for partnering to implement the programme, noting that the collaborative approach demonstrates the government's commitment to improving institutional efficiency while promoting sustainable development.

Participants were encouraged to fully engage in the training and apply the knowledge acquired to enhance the work of their respective Spatial Planning Committees.

Integrating energy efficiency into the building permit process, he noted, will support more effective planning, improve public service delivery and contribute to the construction of more sustainable buildings across the region.

The workshop also provided participants with an opportunity to deliberate on practical strategies for implementing the new energy efficiency guidelines within existing building permit procedures and to identify ways of strengthening institutional coordination among key stakeholders.

The Regional Coordinating Council reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the implementation of the initiative across the region to ensure compliance with the new policy guidelines and promote consistency among all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

The capacity-building programme forms part of broader national efforts to mainstream energy efficiency into local governance systems, ensuring that future building developments contribute to environmental sustainability, reduce energy consumption and improve living standards for citizens