Question

3. Discuss the grave challenges facing planning practice in urban and regional settings of Ghana and propose some policy measures to reduce these challenges.

Answer 1

Ghanaian cities are rapidly developing and the need for better planning is felt in both the urban and regional areas of Ghana. Ghana has been employing a decentralized way of planning. But urbanization's transcendence nature is bound to create issues for the country. Although Ghana acknowledges that they need to incorporate the regional planning and make apt decisions to start development from the roots, the outcomes have not been up to the mark. Vertical-horizontal inclusivity is seen as the need of the hour and is very important to make this decentralized planning system a success.

Challenges

• promoting local participation: The decentralized planning system was introduced to promote the participation of local authorities in decision-making and better development. Even after its incorporation, the issue still exists in the country. This is because of the limited resources and technical capabilities of the local authority. There is also the case of the local power being not able to properly scrutinize the plans and policies.
• high gender inequality: The female ratio is more than male in Ghana and even then the females have limited participation in the decision-making process and developmental planning.
• poor infrastructure: With the cities being flooded with the migrated from the regional areas who came for works, the cities are in dire need of proper infrastructure. Poor infrastructure led to the expansion of urban slums with bad housing facilities. There will be high rent and unstable living conditions. Issues of health problems, food insecurity, bad sanitation, and contamination of water will be there.
• The linkage between urban-rural: There is also no proper connectivity between urban and rural areas. This affects the development of rural land.
• Education, technology, and ability to get affordable finance is also lacking there.

Measure to over challenges

• gender inclusion: To reduce gender inequality, women should also be given important positions so that they can take part in the decision-making process of the country and businesses.
• Education at all levels: Efforts need to be done so that the citizens in both urban and rural lands can become educated. This will help in generating public awareness and will also improve the lifestyles of the people and the migrated workers. Employing education programs that are focused toward skill development and empowering women.
• Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs have certain goals that should be analyzed and given importance.
• There should be an increase in investment in basic infrastructures such as electricity, housing, water facilities, food, and more. Both economic and social infrastructure are important.
• Public-Private Partnerships are a vital source of improving infrastructure.
• For food security, sustainable agriculture systems and modernized farming should be promoted. The government should invest in these areas more and create necessary policies to prosper the agriculture area.
• Financial system of the country should be strengthend.