The Local Governance and Decentralisation Programme (LOGODEP), has organised a training workshop for planners in 22 districts assemblies of the Western Region, on the Map-Maker software.

This would enable them to plot development projects on maps.

Ms Eva Osei, Local Governance Expert told Ghana News Agency that the support would help physical and development planners, to develop specific thematic maps for inclusion in their 2014-2017 Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs).

She said data that exists in text form had been converted into maps to be included in the MTDPs as a best practice for other regions to learn from.

Ms Osei said the maps would profile the districts with respect to existing and non-existing infrastructure, natural resources and economic potentials.

It would also feature location of the districts in terms of transportation, electricity, education, drainage, health facilities, tourism, land cover, vegetation, wetlands, geology, and area councils.

Ms Osei said the map-maker would enhance and facilitate technical analysis and projects indication on maps showing geographical locations of each planned project.

She said currently the National Development Planning Committee, has integrated spatial planning into its mid-term development plan guidelines.

She said Prestea Huni-Valley, Shama, Sefwi Wiawso, Bibiani and Tarkwa were assisted by LOGODEP to use the software in their street naming exercise and to track the level of implementation of development plan.

Ms Osei said the effective use of the software could improve accountability within the various assemblies.

She said LOGODEP is designed to advance the USAID/Ghana’s Strategic Objective 5, which is “Strengthening Democratic and Decentralised Governance through Civil Involvement”.

Ms Osei LOGODEP would support the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and Regional Coordination Councils in implementing the decentralisation policy as provided for in the 1992 Constitution and the Local Government Act (Act 462) of 1993.

This is to ensure sustainable decentralised planning, decision-making and implementation process through the training and capacity building of development agents at the district and community levels.

In addition, LOGODEP aims to assist MMDAs in improving their capacity in good financial governance and provide technical support for increasing their internally generated funds.

She said the civil society component, which aims at creating demand for transparency and accountability and expanding public participation in local governance has become integral part of the programme to ensure local development.