Rapid Urbanisation worrisome- Minister

29-07-2010
Narration: The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo has expressed grave concern about the country’s increasing population growth, thus contributing to rapid urbanization without a comprehensive National Urban Policy to address the situation. He describe as quite alarming the current national population growth rate of 2.7 percent as against urban population growth of 4.4 percent and called on all policy makers to strategically manage the problem. Mr. Woyongo also stressed the need for coordination and collaboration of all stakeholders to assist in that direction. Mr. Woyongo was addressing participants at a validation workshop of the draft National Urban Policy at Bolgatanga. Here is a report by Isaac Asare
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Report
Stakeholders drawn from the various districts and municipalities in the region attended the workshop. The workshop among other things was organized to help solicit meaningful contributions from participants on how best the issue of urbanization can be addressed in the country. This has become necessary due to the comprehensive National Urban Policy draft bill laid before parliament for approval. The bill when passed will help in ensuring development of urban areas towards achieving the goal of sustainable development of human settlements. The passage of the bill will as well complement planned efforts in reducing regional disparities in development between northern and southern Ghana as well as rural and urban areas. The overall objectives under the policy framework are to promote urban safety and security, curb excessive growth and expansion of primate cities, facilitate balanced re-distribution of urban population and also promote efficient urban services and infrastructure delivery. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo was not happy about the continuous population growth in the country’s towns and cities which according to him would lead to serious consequences if measures are not put in place to tackle the situation, hence the need for a national urban policy framework. Mr. Woyongo however appealed to the government as a matter of concern, accelerate the growth of small and medium sized urban centers in lagging regions. This he said can help in reducing the incessant of rural urban migration experienced in the three northern regions. Professor Paul Yankson of the University of Ghana in a presentation on the draft National Urban Policy of Ghana said the implementation of the various proposals contained in the policy document calls for close collaboration and effective coordination of the activities and programmes institutions as they relate to urban development. He emphasized that no country in the industrial age has ever achieved significant economic growth without urbanization and for Ghana to harness the benefits; the nation must develop conscious and planned efforts which flows from a comprehensive urban policy. Prof Yankson therefore called on government, departments and agencies as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to be at the driving seat of the policy to ensure its successful implementation. Participants also expressed worry about the wide north-south development gap and appealed to the government to help speed up development in lagging areas of the north.
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