By Christopher Tetteh
Kumasi, (Ashanti), Sept. 12, GNA -The Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP) has urged physical planners to adhere to high professionalism and ethical values in the discharge of their duties towards building resilient communities.
Mrs Gifty Nyarko, the Interim National President of LoGSAPP, who gave the advice pleaded: “Let’s endeavour to exhibit the spirit of professionalism in order not to frustrate our clients who seek our services.”
She was addressing the opening session of the Second Annual General Meeting and Capacity Building Conference of the Association underway in Kumasi.
The two-day conference is on the theme: “Planning for Resilient, Inclusive, Climate-sensitive and Disaster-free Communities for Efficient Infrastructure Development and Service Delivery”.
The conference sought to discuss corporate workable strategies to build resilient and sustainable infrastructure for the country.
Mrs Nyarko called on the physical planners to build stronger collaboration with clients, agencies, other professionals, traditional authorities and local communities and to collect and integrate people’s views and opinions in building climate smart and disaster resilient cities.
She said: “Our work must strengthen cohesion between the academia, Persons with Disabilities, women, traditional and local authorities, and all community members towards building a conducive environment for humans to thrive.”
Mrs Nyarko indicated that as planners, “we have a stake in the government’s resetting Ghana agenda by taking the lead role to combat the contemporary challenges like flooding, fires outbreaks, climate change impacts, land degradation.”
Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), advised the planners to design communities that were not only climate resilient, but also respond to the needs of the people.
“We must also plan to protect the communities suffering from environmental degradation and also reduce the impact of storms and natural occurrences like rainfall, high humidity and earthquakes,” he advised.
Nana Oppong-Mensah Aborampa, the Sompahene (sub-chief) of the Manso-Nkwanta Traditional Area, who presided over the conference said inclusive strategies with local and traditional authorities remained paramount to building resilient communities that could stand against future shocks.
He urged the planners guard against compromises in the course of their duties, asking them to adhere to the code of conduct governing their profession and helped promote climate smart infrastructure, capable of withstanding future threats.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Benjamin Mensah