JICA Ghana says will keep focus on urbanization master plan
Mr Fuyuki Sagara, Senior Representative of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), Ghana Office, on Wednesday said the agency would keep focusing on support for urban modernization in developing countries.
He said JICA had developed a strategic urban master plan for the rapid socio-economic transformation of developing countries.
Mr Sagara stated at the fourth international seminar on urban development in Asia and Africa in Accra.
The urban development seminars seek to promote the sharing of experience between Asian countries with their African counterparts as well as JICA’s long knowledge and advantages of cooperation in urban development planning over the past decades.
The Accra seminar would look at how to realize the investment after finalization of the master plan and issues to be recognized during the investment phase in each country and how to solve them.
Mr Sagara said the fifth Tokyo International Conference for African Development had been slated for June and is open to all African Heads of State.
Madam Rosamund Edusei, Ashanti Regional Director of the Department of Town and Country Planning, said the Greater Kumasi Project covered the whole of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, its adjourning two municipalities and 5 district assemblies.
She said the goal of the master plan for Greater Kumasi was to contribute to the promotion of efficient and effective development of Greater Kumasi Sub-region by formulating a Comprehensive Urban Development Master Plan for the area.
The JICA Greater Kumasi Project is a 20-year development plan aimed at transforming the current economy of the nation to a vibrant, modernizing and diversified one since Kumasi plays a major role in Ghana’s economy.
Mr Asiedu Poku, former Director of the Department of Town and Country Planning, said the comprehensive urban development planning was part of Ghana government’s policy of public private partnership.
Delegates from Japan, Vietnam, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire are attending the JICA seminar.
Source: GNA