Accra, Dec. 14, GNA - The newly approved spatial planning system would improve the legal, institutional and technological capacity of the Town and Country Planning Department.

Mr Asiedu Poku, Acting Director of Town and Country Planning Department, who announced this, said Ghana's middle income status would be meaningful when human settlements exhibited some orderliness, beauty and livability expected of modern towns.

He was addressing a media briefing on the system in Accra on Tuesday. The system to be implemented on pilot basis in six districts within five regions in the country would be participatory at all levels for relevant planning, designing and implementation. They are Dangme West District in Greater Accra Region, Awutu-Senya District in the Central Region, Ahanta West and Wassa Amenfi Districts in the Western Region, Ejisu-Juaben Municipality in Ashanti Region and Savelugu-Nanton District in the Northern Region. It would address problems associated with land use in the country and help establish a harmonious land management regime, taking into consideration the country's socio-economic priorities. Mr Poku said some challenges facing the department were insufficient staff, lack of up-to-date base maps for planning, insufficient logistics, financial resources, and lack of office accommodation especially in the districts.

He pledged that despite the problems, the staff would continue to work hard to improve their performance.

Mr Lawrence Z. Dakurah, Deputy Director and Team Leader of Land Use Planning and Management Project (LUPMP) said it was necessary for the department to introduce a new land use planning system, under the Ghana Land Administration Project, to streamline the use and management of land in a sustainable manner. He explained that the new spatial system was to ensure co-ordination of spatial development at the national, regional and distinct levels, and lead to sustainable use of land and help developers or investors ascertain where infrastructure would be given priority, and guide future investment decisions. Mr Dakurah said it would facilitate the identification of potential future markets for investments, and provide on-line access to all levels of plans, information on land ownership, valuation and status of development.