Africa-Press – Ghana. Mr. Francis Owusu Antwi, the Bono East Regional Minister, has inaugurated a 14-member spatial planning committee to plan for the prudent utilization of and development lands in the region.
He tasked the committee to prepare a regional spatial development framework and provide technical guidance for the development of the region.
Speaking at an inauguration ceremony in Techiman, Mr. Antwi asked them to actively engage all stakeholders in the preparation of the framework, saying the guideline was required to stem the putting up of structures and buildings in unauthorized places in the region.
He said the committee was also mandated to help tackle land use conflicts, environmental degradation, under-utilization of land and natural resources as well as facilitating equal distribution of social and physical infrastructures in the communities.
Mr. Antwi indicated that the formation of the committee was in line with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act (LUSPA), which mandated all regions to do so for proper planning and development.
“The LUSPA portrays new architecture of land use planning in Ghana to promote sustainable human settlement and development and eradicate haphazard and unplanned settlements,” he stated.
Mr. Antwi said the Act stipulated the implementation of a three-tier planning system of Spatial Development Framework, Structure Plans and Local Plans (SDP) for all the Regions and Districts.
The SDP identifies areas of high growth and development that require the preparation of a structure plan and consequently the preparation of local plans.
Mr. Antwi said the implementation of the SDP would help to ensure proper spatial planning in the Region and also support the government agenda in the implementation of the 24 hour economy initiative.
The Reverend Mrs. Naomi Sarpong, the Bono East Regional Commander for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) expressed concern about springing up of structures and buildings in unauthorized places, saying that had made it difficult for the service to attend to emergencies.
She said the command had set up a taskforce, working to help control recurring fire outbreaks in some markets in Techiman, saying that the taskforce was undertaking 24-hour patrols in the markets.
The committee comprises representatives from the RCC, LUSPA, Lands Commission, Fire Service, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Ghana Highways Authority, House of Chiefs and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
Others include the Department of Agriculture, Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Commission, Regional Economic Planning and the Public Utility Regulatory Commission.
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