The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Member of Parliament (MP) for La-Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odolley Sowah, has reiterated the country’s commitment and focus towards accelerating the delivery of the New Urban Agenda.
According to the Deputy Minister, Ghana has prioritized four key actions towards realizing the attainment of the New Urban Agenda. These priority actions, according to her, include scaling affordable and inclusive housing through the implementation of the 2024 Housing Profile recommendations and the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy, as well as strengthening integrated urban development and spatial planning through the National Urban Policy (2026-2035).
The other priority areas are the expansion of urban infrastructure and local economic development through initiatives such as the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme, the Greater Accra Resilience and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, the Smart SDGs Programme, and the Sustainable Cities Programme.
Ms. Odolley said the country is also advancing climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable cities while strengthening urban governance, institutional capacity, coordination, and data systems, including the operationalization of a Ghana Urban Observatory.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Political Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States, on behalf of the sector minister, Ahmed Ibrahim, Odolley Sowah observed that the High-Level Meeting was an important milestone in accelerating the implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards 2036.
She commended the United Nations for convening the platform to review progress, identify gaps, and renew global commitment at the midpoint of the initiative.
The legislator further highlighted the steady progress Ghana has made over the past decade, through strong national leadership, decentralized governance, and evidence-based planning led by the National Development Planning Commission and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
She said “Ghana had strengthened urban governance, economic productivity, and institutional performance through digital systems, skills development, and private sector participation.”
She, however, admitted that progress had not kept pace with rapid urbanization, and that housing remained the most pressing challenge.
Madam Odolley told world leaders that Ghana faces a housing deficit of more than 1.8 million units, while up to 37 percent of the urban population live in informal settlements, informing the focus on the four identified priority areas.
She assured the gathering that, looking ahead, Ghana will scale up affordable housing and slum upgrading, strengthen local government fiscal capacity, expand sustainable urban financing, integrate climate resilience into planning and infrastructure, and enhance data systems and digital governance.
These efforts, she noted, will be pursued in partnership with development partners, the private sector, and local communities, stressing that Ghana underscores the importance of stronger international cooperation.
She called for increased and predictable financing for housing and urban development, direct access to climate finance for cities, and expanded technical and multilateral collaboration.
Technical officers whose efforts resulted in the success of the programme, and who deserve particular mention, include Mr. Samuel Seth Passah, Director of Local Governance and Decentralization, and Mr. Samu Iddris, Director responsible for Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
The New Urban Agenda was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, on 20 October 2016. It was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly at its sixty-eighth plenary meeting of the seventy-first session on 23 December 2016.
The New Urban Agenda represents a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future. If well-planned and well-managed, urbanization can be a powerful tool for sustainable development for both developing and developed countries.
Ghana’s delegation to the High-Level Political Forum included Members of the Parliamentary Select Committees on Water Resources, Works and Housing, as well as officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Works and Housing, she concluded.
Source: Collins Kofi Asante
