By Christopher Tetteh, GNA
Kumasi (Ash), Oct. 29, GNA – Professor Sam Afrane, the former Vice-Chancellor for Christian Service University has expressed concern about emerging challenges in urban planning, calling for a concerted approach to tackle them.
He said collective efforts were required to address rapid urbanisation, climate change related impacts, urban sprawl, sanitation crisis, and air pollution.
Prof. Afrane raised the concerns when at the third Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference of the Local Government Services Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP), underway in Kumasi.
He noted that gradually the nation was becoming prone to disasters associated with climate change, urging stakeholders’ collaboration to tackle the threats and to build a resilient society for all.
The two-day AGM is on the theme: “Strengthening spatial planning for disaster risk prevention, reduction, climate change resilience and sustainable infrastructure delivery in Ghana.”
Prof. Afrane said the nation ought to conduct a detailed nationwide assessment of disaster-prone areas for the development of a comprehensive disaster management plan.
He noted that disaster prevention and management in already built-up areas were often more complex and difficult to handle, proposing strict law enforcement as a strategy for disaster prevention.
Prof. Afrane also suggested that strictly enforcing development control and building standards without favours or exceptions, could help the nation to well manage emerging disaster risk and threats.
He called on the nation to also promote sustainable infrastructure delivery and to enhance the resilience of communities to disasters, as well as ensuring the integration of disaster risk into spatial and infrastructure planning.
He cited that: “The catastrophic 2026 flood caused unimaginable fatalities and one of such deadly incidents that turned major transport hubs like the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Teshie, and Achimota into impassable waterways.”
“That was one of the most devastating climate-linked urban disasters of the decade that impacted Greater Accra, Central, and Western Regions,” he added.
Prof. Afrane noted that innovative and cutting-edge preventive strategies were required to stem potential disasters, stressing the need for the nation to make conscious efforts to protect natural ecosystems.
He said the use of nature-based solutions in planning and urban management systems remained essential, calling for adaptation of risk-sensitive and land-use planning.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Christopher Tetteh
Email: [email protected]