EASTERN RM CALLS FOR ACCURATE BASE MAPS TO GUIDE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has emphasized the urgent need for accurate base maps and structured local planning to ensure orderly development, effective resource allocation, and long-term sustainability in Ghana’s urban and rural areas.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, 18th March 2025, at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in Somanya, Mrs. Awatey underscored the importance of community-driven planning and collaboration among key stakeholders, noting that development must align with the needs and aspirations of the people.
The event was organized by the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly in collaboration with land sector agencies. It focused on the preparation of base maps and local plans for four communities, Somanya, Nkurakan, Oterkporlu, and Klo-Agogo, as part of efforts to guide urban expansion and prevent unplanned settlements.

Mrs. Awatey stressed that accurate spatial planning is a critical tool for informed decision-making as unplanned developments lead to environmental degradation,
inefficient land use, and inadequate infrastructure provision. She emphasized that stakeholders collaboration, including input from traditional authorities, technical experts, and government agencies, is key to ensuring that local plans reflect the true needs of communities.
Commending the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly and its partners, she reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to supporting structured urban planning, adding that spatial development is essential to achieving President Mahama’s vision of resetting Ghana’s development agenda.
The Deputy CEO of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority LUSPA, Chapman Owusu Sekyere, highlighted the technical expertise required for proper land use management, stating that LUSPA’s role is to develop base maps and spatial plans that facilitate coordinated urban growth.
The President of the Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana LiSAG, Ing. Samuel Larbi Darko, noted that the Yilo Krobo project serves as a pilot initiative with plans to expand it nationwide. He urged the government to provide financial and technical support to ensure sustainable urbanization and structured community development.
The Vice-Chancellor of UESD, Professor Eric Nyarko-Sampson, pledged the university’s support, emphasizing that sustainable urban development must be knowledge-driven. He expressed optimism that the initiative would enhance the spatial outlook of Somanya and its surrounding communities, including areas within the university’s jurisdiction.
Since its launch in May 2024, the base mapping and local planning project in Yilo Krobo Municipality has focused on identifying fast-growing communities and developing structured layouts to guide physical development. Land sector agencies, including LUSPA, LiSAG, the Office of Stool Lands, and the Survey and Mapping Division of the Lands Commission, are working with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies MMDAs to develop structured plans that ensure sustainable land use and prevent urban sprawl.

Mrs. Awatey urged all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, local authorities, and technical experts, to actively contribute to the planning process, emphasizing that spatial planning is a long-term investment in community development.
“As your Regional Minister and daughter of this land, I wish to reassure you of my unwavering commitment to supporting this laudable process. Let us continue to work together to ensure that we lay a solid foundation for growth and development that will benefit generations to come,” she stated.
The engagement provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review the progress of the project, discuss challenges, and propose strategies for ensuring effective land use management in the Eastern Region and beyond.