Kintampo, Sept 2, GNA - Mr Edward Karbo, Director of the Town and Country Planning Department, on Monday appealed to the staff of the department to involve stakeholders in the drawing of layout plans for the orderly physical development of communities.

''Until the Department meets the expectations of the people through constant interactions, developers will continue to abuse prepared layout plans,'' he said.

Mr Karbo, who is on a three-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region, was addressing 40 stakeholders in the Kintampo District on the Participatory Urban Planning (PUP) concept, a collaborative effort by the government and the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ).

The concept, designed to involve both stakeholders and technocrats in the designing and implementation of layout plans of the various communities, is currently being tested on a pilot basis in Kintampo and Ejura in Ashanti Region.

Under the concept workshops have been organized for 241 unit committee members, 20 Urban Councillors, 50 masons and 150 youth to create awareness on urban planning issues in the Kintampo.

Mr Karbo said that the PUP concept would be replicated in all the districts depending on its success in the two pilot areas and commended the chiefs and people of Kintampo for their collaboration with the Town and Country Planning Department so far.

Mr Kwadwo Yeboah, Kintampo District Director of the Department, said awareness was created through radio programmes and this has generated public interest in the proper management and planning of Kintampo.

Residents are now ready to report and confront persons putting up unauthorized structures, a trend that has been very helpful to the department, he said.