The Head of Physical Planning Department at the Sunyani West Municipal Assembly, Planner Gifty Nyarko, has stated that traditional Authorities are key stakeholders in Ghana’s quest to achieve a well-planned development for resilient cities.
She therefore pleaded with the chiefs, who are custodians of the land to collaborate with the physical planning institutions to ensure development initiatives are well-planned, well-managed, transparent and beneficial to all people and communities.
Pln. Nyarko, who is also the Interim National President of the Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LOGSAPP), made the call in a short speech after she was presented with a “Prestigious Personality of Great Impact and Excellence Award” at the Ghana Titans Awards 2025, held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Contributions
The award recognized her significant contributions to national development, particularly in the areas of participatory planning, transparency, and sustainable practices.
Pln. Nyarko was one of only two individuals from the Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies in Ghana to receive such honour.
She urged the chiefs to refrain from verbally authorizing prospective developments, emphasizing that, “the significant role traditional leaders play in the planning process can’t be underestimated”, therefore urged them to refrain from verbally authorizing prospective developments.
Pln. Nyarko further pleaded with the chiefs to work alongside planners to ensure that cities are well-planned to align with national development goals while addressing critical issues like climate change and fire prevention.
The physical planner further encouraged developers to also go to their respective Assemblies for the necessary documentation to guide their projects to avoid any possible haphazard development.
Proper planning
Pln. Nyarko underscored the importance of proper planning in shaping Ghana’s future, hence introduced a self-initiated project dubbed “Bringing Spatial Planning to the Doorsteps of People.
This project has had far-reaching and great positive impacts both within Ghana and internationally, she revealed.
She dedicated the award to organizations and individuals who have been pivotal in her journey, including the Chiefs and Queens, the Ghana Institute of Planning and the Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners.
Others were the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, the Sunyani West Municipal Assembly, Municipal Coordinating Director Mr. Gordon Domayele, Pln. Frank Martey Korley, Pln. Yaa Asuamah Gyedu-Pensang, Pln. Kwabena Asiedu-Bediako, Prof. Clifford Amoako (Head of the Department of Planning at KNUST), Caravan of Prayer Outreach Ministry and her family for their unwavering support.
