Accra: Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to establish designated auto zones as part of efforts to restore discipline and order in the country's spatial planning system.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Thompson made these remarks during a media briefing on NDPC's Strategic Regional Engagements in Accra. He highlighted the growing trend of indiscriminate car sales across the country, labeling it a manifestation of lawlessness that undermines national development. He explained that the uncontrolled spread of car dealerships into public spaces has exacerbated flooding and environmental degradation, as open lands are often paved over with concrete, reducing natural water absorption.
Dr. Thompson, who also serves as a Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasized that the creation of auto zones would bring much-needed order, protect the environment, and contribute to safer communities. He warned that the lack of proper spatial planning forces the government to redirect resources from critical sectors like education to address disaster relief and relocation efforts.
In addition to advocating for auto zones, Dr. Thompson addressed broader structural challenges impacting Ghana's development agenda. He pointed out persistent disconnects between national plans and budgets, as well as between spatial planning and sectoral planning in agriculture, industry, and services. He revealed that the NDPC has initiated discussions with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) to bridge these gaps, aiming to ensure that development is clear, orderly, and disciplined.
The NDPC Chairman assured that the Commission is working diligently to meet the President's mandate of consolidating multiple fragmented development plans into a cohesive national framework by the end of the year. He underscored that discipline in both spatial and sectoral planning is crucial for achieving sustainable development and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).