Some media networks on Monday, August 9, 2010, reported that the Western Regional Deputy Minister, Ms Betty Bosomtwi-Sam, has said that poor urbanization planning over the years, has adversely affected the socio-economic development of the country and has endangered the nation’s quest to reach a middle income status by 2015.
She was quoted as saying “The lack of urbanization has led to the evolution of slums which has suddenly become a den of hardened criminals, drug peddlers and prostitutes”.
The western regional deputy minister also observed in the reports that pressure on electricity, water housing and even roads have come into effect as a result of the rampant rural-urban drift.
She noted that more people in deprived areas continue to migrate to the city to seek greener pastures bringing pressure on urban dwellers.
The minister was addressing a western regional validation workshop on the draft National Urban Policy (NUP) in Takoradi.
It is in this wise that we on this paper urge city and municipal planners to execute the right structural plans to ensure that structures in the city are put in the very best of locations that does not interrupt movements.
Today therefore adds its voice to the minister’s call, although it has been long overdue. There is no denying the fact that proper planning and resource allocation will greatly support economic growth and resolve the myriad of flood disasters that hit flood prone areas during rainy seasons.
The paper is of the firm belief that is about time authorities enforced legislations and standards on urban development and management which will go a long way to facilitate efficient land delivery for urban development.
We on the paper strongly believe that in achieving the above objective, there is the need for government to strengthen the capacity of institutions to intensify public education on the need for people to eschew migrating to the urban areas to compound the already sordid conditions bedeviling urban dwellers.
By so doing, the paper would like to seize this opportunity to call on politicians to desist from politicizing government efforts in making sure that more slums are not created as it has always been the case.