The National President of the Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP), Gifty Nyarko, has urged the government to place spatial planning at the centre of the country’s development agenda.

That, she said, would ensure sustainable urban growth and effective management of land and infrastructure.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Ms Nyarko said Ghana’s rapid urbanisation demanded stronger planning systems to guide development and prevent growing challenges in cities and communities.

She also urged policymakers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chiefs Executives (MMDCEs), planners and investors to ensure that development decisions are inclusive and transparent.

Flooding

Ms Nyarko, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the African Centre for Urban Resilience Planning and Inclusive Governance (ACURPIG), said the increasing cases of uncontrolled urban expansion, congestion, flooding, encroachment on water channels and the loss of green spaces across many parts of the country were clear indications of weak or poorly coordinated spatial planning.

“Spatial planning is no longer a luxury for developing countries; it is a necessity,” she stated and called for robust institutional support and increased public awareness to strengthen the country’s spatial planning systems.

Ms Nyarko noted that many of the challenges confronting urban communities were the result of development that occurred without clear spatial guidance and coordination.

She explained that spatial planning provided a framework for organising land use, guiding infrastructure development and ensuring that settlements grew in a coordinated and sustainable manner.

Critical facilities

She said that without effective planning systems, urban growth could become fragmented and inefficient, making it difficult for governments to provide infrastructure and essential services.

Ms Nyarko explained that spatial planning played an important role in promoting social equity by ensuring that communities had access to key services and opportunities.

She noted that spatial planning was critical for building climate-resilient communities.

“Settlements must be designed to withstand environmental shocks, while ensuring the safety and well-being of residents,” she said.

Ms Nyarko said planning should not be viewed as an obstacle to development but rather as the foundation for sustainable national growth.

“The future of our communities will not be determined by chance. It will be determined by how well we plan our space today," she said.