The initiative was implemented in partnership with the West Mamprusi, Wa West, Wa East and Wa Municipal Assemblies in 66 communities. 

It aimed to support communities in developing plans that reflect their development aspirations and needs, which also feed into the assemblies’ medium-term development plans. 

Plan International Ghana provided funding and technical support for the process through key departments of the assemblies, namely; Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, National Commission for Civic Education, and Department of Social Welfare and Community Development. 

Thirteen communities in the Wa Municipality, which benefited from the initiative, presented their development plans to the Wa Municipal Assembly and the decentralised departments at the weekend.  

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Wa, Mr Adams Moro, the Wa Municipal Coordinating Director, described community development plans as blueprints that shape development interventions and strengthen the Assembly’s planning processes. 

He said the intervention by the NGO would help ease the financial burden of the Assembly in facilitating the development of the Plans across all 97 communities in the Municipality. 

“But for the intervention of Plan International Ghana, we would have been spending more money and resources to go to the 13 communities that they have helped us develop the Plans,” Mr Moro said. 

Mr Moro commended Plan International Ghana and its partners for the support, noting that some priorities captured in the community plans had been incorporated into the Assembly’s annual action plan for implementation. 

Mr Kamaldeen Iddrisu, Programmes Coordinator at Plan International Ghana, said the initiative followed the challenges of scarce resources and the need to avoid duplication of projects by development partners in participating communities. 

He explained that the process of developing the Plans was community-led, involving all segments of the community members, including children and differently abled persons, to ensure inclusiveness in identifying priorities. 

“These Plans are important documents that support the development of the communities in a coordinated manner and should not be left on the shelves. 

Take your own initiatives and follow up with the various assemblies and development partners to implement the priority areas as outlined in the plans,” Mr Iddrisu told the communities.  

Mr Yussif Matthew, Assembly Member for Nakori-Chansa Electoral Area, said the Chansa Community Development Plan prioritised access to potable water, education, prevention of teenage pregnancy and drug abuse among the youth. 

He said the Plan had identified the construction of a Junior High School block at Chansa as an urgent development need. 

Mr Issahaku Yussif of the Sing community, said their Plan had prioritised school infrastructure and furniture, sanitation and hygiene facilities and addressing teenage pregnancy.  

Madam Fatima Seidu, also from the Sing community, appealed to stakeholders and development partners to ensure the Plans were reference documents for development interventions in their communities.