Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Spatial Planning Committee, has welcomed stakeholders to a three-day validation workshop on the Situational Report for the preparation of Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs) for Ketu South, Keta and Anloga.
The workshop, held from August 25 to 27 in Aburi, was organised with support from the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) under the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project II (WACA ResIP 2).
Mr Gunu, in his address, described the initiative as timely, considering the increasing threats of coastal erosion, tidal waves, climate change and other environmental pressures affecting communities and livelihoods along the Volta Region’s coastline.
He said the preparation of the Spatial Development Frameworks would provide a strategic roadmap to guide future development in the three coastal districts, including housing, infrastructure and investment, while promoting sustainable and resilient communities.
The Regional Minister said effective spatial planning was critical to addressing the vulnerabilities confronting coastal communities and ensuring that development interventions were properly coordinated and responsive to environmental challenges and the needs of the people.
He noted that the Frameworks would help provide a common basis for planning and decision-making, while supporting efforts to manage land use, protect vulnerable communities, and promote sustainable socio-economic development along the coast.
The workshop brought together representatives of LUSPA, the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, relevant institutions, members of the Regional Spatial Planning Committee and technical teams from Ketu South, Keta and Anloga to review and validate the situational reports.
Mr Gunu expressed appreciation to LUSPA and other partners for their support, describing the preparation of the SDFs as an important step towards ensuring coordinated, sustainable and climate-resilient development in the three coastal districts.
He expressed the hope that the outcome of the validation exercise would provide a clear direction for development planning and strengthen efforts to build safer and more resilient communities along the coastal belt of the Volta Region.
