Eastern Region receives equipment for street naming exercise
The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has received various office and field equipment from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) to enable it to embark on the street naming and property addressing exercise.
The items received include, desktop and laptop computers, photocopiers, printers and scanners among other basic equipment needed for the implementation of the exercise.
Mr Mohammed Ahmed Baba Jamal, Deputy Minister for MLGRD, presented the equipment during the regional orientation workshop for Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) on street naming and property addressing project in Koforidua, on Friday.
He remarked that it was disgraceful for Ghana, as a lower middle income country, to rely on informal directions and local landmarks to locate areas instead of street names and house numbers.
“This does not only inhibit efficient commerce and negatively impact on small businesses but it also impedes activities of agencies responsible for public utilities, security and emergency services such as the fire and ambulance services among others when their services are required,” he said.
Mr Baba Jamal said it was therefore expedient and urgent that all streets and property in every locality in the country are named and addressed respectively to enable easy location of places.
He called on all to be committed to ensuring that the exercise becomes successful, urging the Town and Country Planning as well as the Municipal and District assemblies to take the leading role in the programme.
Mr Baba Jamal reminded Ghanaians that street naming and property addressing system was not about politics and that all should not read politics into the exercise.
“This exercise we are embarking on is for the generations yet unborn and not for any individual or a political party, therefore structures that need to be demolished or redirected should be allowed to go.”
He however entreated the planners and the MDAs to consult community leaders before giving names on streets to prevent any controversy.
Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, the Eastern Regional Minister, receiving the equipment on behalf of the MDAs and the Planning officers, assured that the region could not afford to fail in the exercise.
“The region would do its best not only to undertake the exercise but also ensure that it is completed within the stipulated time frame,” she stressed.
Source: GNA