In a significant step toward strengthening sustainable urban development and responsible land management, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has sworn in members of the Spatial Planning Committees and Technical Sub-Committees of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the Ashanti Region.
The ceremony, held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, brought together key stakeholders in local governance and spatial development, marking a renewed commitment to ensuring that towns and cities within the region grow in a coordinated, safe, and environmentally sustainable manner.
The newly sworn-in committees have been established in accordance with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016, which provides the legal framework for regulating land use and guiding physical development across Ghana.
Under the Act, these committees are tasked with overseeing development planning processes, enforcing land use regulations, and ensuring that settlement expansion occurs in an orderly and structured way.
Dr. Amoakohene emphasized that spatial planning remains one of the most critical tools for promoting balanced growth and improving the quality of life in communities across the Ashanti Region.
“These committees have been mandated to guide orderly development, regulate land use, and ensure that our towns and cities grow in a planned, safe, and sustainable manner,” he stated.
Call for Integrity and Professionalism
Addressing members during the swearing-in ceremony, the Regional Minister urged them to approach their duties with a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to the public interest.
He charged the committee members to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability, stressing that their decisions will directly affect the future of communities and the wellbeing of residents.
“I charged members to approach their responsibilities with integrity, professionalism, and a strong commitment to the public good,” Dr. Amoakohene noted.
The Minister underscored the growing importance of effective spatial planning in addressing some of the region’s most pressing urban challenges, including congestion, unregulated development, environmental degradation, and flooding.
According to him, proper land use planning is essential to preventing the uncontrolled expansion of settlements, which often leads to poor drainage systems, overcrowded roads, and increased vulnerability to disasters.
“Effective spatial planning remains essential to reducing congestion, preventing flooding, protecting the environment, and restoring Kumasi’s proud identity as the Garden City of West Africa,” he added.
Dr. Amoakohene highlighted the need to reclaim Kumasi’s historic reputation as the Garden City of West Africa, a title that reflects the city’s once-renowned greenery, beauty, and orderly layout.
He indicated that restoring this identity will require deliberate planning, enforcement of development regulations, and collaboration among stakeholders at all levels.
The committees, he said, will play a pivotal role in ensuring that development across the region aligns with long-term sustainability goals and modern urban planning standards.
The swearing-in ceremony signals a broader regional agenda to create well-structured and resilient communities capable of meeting future demands.
Dr. Amoakohene expressed optimism that the work of the spatial planning committees will contribute significantly to building cities and towns that are not only functional today but also prepared for tomorrow’s growth.
“Together, we will build well-structured, resilient, and future-ready communities across the Region,” he affirmed.
The establishment and activation of these committees come at a time when rapid urbanization continues to reshape the Ashanti Region. With increasing pressure on land, housing, infrastructure, and the environment, authorities believe coordinated spatial planning will be key to ensuring sustainable progress.
The Regional Minister’s call serves as both a charge and a reminder that responsible land governance is fundamental to development, and that the success of the region’s future depends on the commitment of those entrusted with planning its growth.
As the committees begin their work, residents across the Ashanti Region will be watching closely, hopeful that their efforts will translate into cleaner, safer, greener, and better-organized communities for generations to come.
