Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) has commenced a spatial planning and human settlement management compliance of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).

The exercise commenced in Accra yesterday with spatial planning committee meetings of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Korle Klottey, Ayawaso Central and Ablekuma Central municipal assemblies.

The Greater Accra regional exercise, which ends on April 30, 2026, would look out for how the assemblies executed their spatial planning duties, such as preparation of spatial plans, planning and development permitting applications.

The exercise is being extended to other MMDAs across the country. The last time the exercise was conducted in the country was in 2021.

Exercise

The exercise would focus on approval procedures, development control measures and change of use and rezoning, in accordance with the LUSPA Act, 2016 (ACT 925), and the LUSPA regulations 2019 (LI 2384).

Other areas of interest include assessment opportunities, which would be carried out through engagement with technical sub-committees and various spatial planning committees, challenges and capacity gaps of technical sub-committees and spatial planning committees of MMDAs.

Teamwork

The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Odoley Sowah, who went round with the team in Accra yesterday, charged the assemblies, especially members of technical committees, made up of representatives of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), traditional authorities and Lands Commission, among others, to team up and work closely with developers.

She also urged the assemblies to get people on the ground to monitor the activities of potential developers.

Ms Sowah further cautioned the assemblies not to bend the rules for monetary gains, adding, “When the developers bring their documents, do not bend the rules, say it as it is; do not be swayed by the money”.

Beautification

The deputy minister also urged MMDAs to consciously beautify their jurisdictions by applying greenery and proper demarcation of roads.

On indiscriminate siting of billboards, Ms Sowah said: “We will work with MMDAs to enforce the laws”.

She presented copies of LUSPA zoning and spatial planning guidelines to the assemblies.

Advice

The Chief Executive Officer of LUSPA, Dr Kwadwo Yeboah, urged assemblies to collaborate effectively with the technical committees and not work in silos or departmentalise monitoring of physical projects.

“Take this work seriously. If there is a collapse of a building in a municipality, it is the responsibility of the spatial planning committee, and so when taking any decision on land, be careful,” he said.

Dr Yeboah explained that the objective of the monitoring exercise by his outfit was to find out whether MMDAs, and for that matter, the technical committees, were operating in accordance with the law.

He said individuals and assemblies which fell short during the exercise would be sanctioned.