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The governing board of the Lands Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUPSA) and the governing council of the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) were on Friday inaugurated in Accra by the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim.
The 11-member council of LUPSA, is chaired by Mr Jonathan Kwesi Azasoo with Usama Iddrisu Samu, Cephas Adjei Mensah, Hope Boye Agbah, George Kodwo Addison, Mrs Josephine Manu, Mr Paul Siameh, and Dr Kwadwo Yeboah as members.
The rest of the members are Dr Jacob Paarechuga Anankware, Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, Mr Anthony Mallen Ntiador, and Gad Asorwoe Akwensivie,
Naa Puowele Karbo III, Lawra Naa, Jimmy Aidoo, Dr Marful Alexander Boakye, Francis Laako Larkai, and Dr Tina Dzigbordi, Wemegah.
Similarly, the Governing Council of the ILGS is chaired by Dr William Kofi Ahadzie and has Dr Prof. Nicholas Awortwi, Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, Sheriff. J. Armah, Mrs Mabel Akuorkor Amoako-Atta, Professor Lord Mensah, Dr Edinam Kakra Avoke, Abdul Mumuni Ewuntomah, Andaratu Achuwilor Khalid, and Professor Samuel Aniegye Ntewusu.
The members, led by the Sector Minister, swore the official oath and the oath of secrecy.
Delivering the inaugural address, Mr Ibrahim, on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, congratulated the chairpersons and members of the two institutions that operated within the local governance sector.
He acknowledged the work of the two institutions, including the organisation of a series of orientation and training programmes for officials working in the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He stated that efforts were being made by the government to upgrade the ILGS into a special university that would be providing professional and higher education that were critical for an effective local governance without compromising on its core mandate of training staff and political functionaries of the RCC and MMDAs.
Again, Mr Ibrahim said that his ministry in pursuant to Section 37, 38, and 39 of the LUPSA Act, 2016 (Act 925), would corporate with the governing board to ensure the functionality of the District Spatial Planning Committees and Technical Sub-Committee to ensure that physical development in the MMDAs were carried out in accordance with the LUPSA Act, 2016 (Act 925).
He expressed gratitude to the former Chairperson, Emeritus Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, and his members for the work they did, and urged the new governing board and council of the two institutions to continue from where their predecessors left off.
Mr Azasoo said that the management and effective use of lands required bold leadership, integrated planning, and strong institutions.
He noted that the governing board of LUPSA would work effectively to fulfil their mandate.
On his part, Dr Ahadzie appealed to the Minister to help ILGS secure the charter that would facilitate its transformation into a university and also assist the institute with adequate resources.
He pledged the commitment of the new governing council to turn the ILGS into a global centre of excellence.
