MMDAs Should Create Public Data Rooms

The Chief Executive of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, Mr. Lawrence Dakurah, has called for the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to put premium on the creation of public data rooms.

This, he indicated, was necessary to help the public to have access to accurate records on development plans, activities and operation of the assemblies.

'It is important for MMDAs not to shroud anything in secrecy', he added and reminded them that they were enjoined by law to be transparent, to strengthen the local government system.

Mr. Dakurah was speaking at the inauguration of district spatial planning and technical sub-committees for the assemblies in the Ashanti Region, in Kumasi.

The committees are mandated to see to it that the assemblies efficiently performed their spatial planning and human settlement management functions through a decentralized planning system.

They are also to prepare spatial plans, facilitate activities relating to internally-generated funds, process development applications for permits and work to maintain computerized street addressing system.

Mr. Dakurah noted that about 70 per cent of monies generated by the assemblies internally, was from land use-related activities, and advised the committees to focus priority on helping the assemblies to carry through their development vision.

'The effective and efficient performance of the MMDAs in the discharge of their land use and human settlement planning mandate, would be determined, to a large extent, by inputs made by the committees.'

He spoke of the introduction of land use planning and management information system (LUPMIS) to aid preparation of spatial plans and internal revenue generation.

Additionally, guidelines on the issuance of permits had also been developed for purposes of uniformity and to assist reduce delays in the issuance of permits - this should be ready in 30 working days or less.

Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, the Regional Minister, advised the committees to step up education on spatial planning and judicious land use.

That, he said, would help to overcome the lawlessness and impunity - breaches of approved planning schemes by developers.

GNA
By Stephen Asante/ Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA