The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah has called on Mayors of Africa to ensure that their urban planning strategies lead to the creation of cities of opportunities for all levels of residents at any given period.
According to him such cities should have access to basic services, energy, housing and transportation among other needs which make life pleasurable.
The Chief of staff said this in a speech he read on behalf of the President John Dramani Mahama at a three day workshop held for the mayors from seven African countries, Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives and other stakeholders at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra last Wednesday.
The workshop which was under the theme ‘Promoting the Role of Cities: Africa Strategy Workshop” was attended by Mayors and representatives from Burkina Faso,Ethiopia,Ghana,Liberia,Mozambique,Tunisia and Uganda including various Research and Professional Teams engaged in the Future Cities Africa Programme and Africa Think Tanks.
The Chief of Staff indicated that cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, social development and that they should be planned in such a way that they are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
‘”We cannot achieve the Africa we want without concrete partnerships that will facilitate harnessing the opportunities that are presented by urbanization,” he stated.
Mr. Julius Debrah mentioned common urban challenges to include congestion, lack of funds to provide basic services, shortage of adequate housing and declining infrastructure.
He surmised that in the bid to provide these services, there was the need to be mindful that land and other resources are not overstretched adding that whatever strategy is put in place has opportunities for job creation for the people.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum was happy that the ministry was collaborating with the Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives constantly in a bid to evolve strategies within the country’s urban communities which will meet international status.
By Solomon Ofori