The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) will on Thursday 21 January, 2016, officially launch the Master Planning Process for the transformation of the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana. The planning process is expected to position the SADA Zone to attract investors and investments, create several opportunities and generate employment and economic growth.
The zone occupies 54.4 % of the land area of Ghana (130,264 sq km), about one third of Ghana‘s population, comprising 64 administrative districts in the Northern, Upper-West, Upper East Regions and the northern parts of the Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions. Although blessed with immense natural resources, resilient and hardworking people, a vibrant culture rooted in thousands of years of history, this area scores lowest in most human development indicators and inhabit a fragile environment.
The core purpose of the planning process is to find answers to the question “What needs to be done, prioritised or done differently, in order to harness the vast resources of the zone for its transformation?
The idea of undertaking the robust master planning process and finding answers to the key questions gained momentum during the 2015 Annual Week Celebration, which was hosted by SADA in March 2015 (SABIF 2015). During this week, the GhiE and other stakeholders including the TCPD debated on ways in which SADA could facilitate a process that would result into a total transformation of the SADA Zone by harnessing the vast resources and energies of the zone to catalyze investments into game-changer initiatives within the Zone.
The Master Plan will provide an integrated data management system, including high resolution maps, develop the SADA Regional Concept Plan and deliver the Tamale City and Buipe City Master Plans. The Tamale City and Buipe City Masterplans will include Zoning Plans and Urban Design Proposals; environment plans; transport, utilities and ICT infrastructure proposals; and an on-line and GIS-based land management and property tax system. The Master Plan will be led by the leadership and technical personnel of these cities.
The plan will also review the planning framework and conduct socio-economic analysis aimed at developing a unique regional vision, prescribing specific economic sectors, recommending game-changing regional projects as well as supporting SADA’s investment promotion drive within the Zone.
In achieving this Master Plan, three consultants from Surbana Jurong were invited to a round table discussion at Alisa Hotel, Accra involving diverse stakeholders including the Deputy Chairperson and members of the Ghana National Planning Commission, the Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD), various experts, Development Partners, professional institutions such as the Ghana Institute of Engineers (GhIE) and the Ghana Institution of Planners, Representatives of Political Parties, the Minister In-Charge of Public Private Partnerships, local and international private sector representatives, civil society bodies and staff and Board members of SADA among others.
This meeting provided baseline information drawing from the interim report of the SADA Zone Spatial Development Framework exercise that SADA was conducting with the TCPD, and set the parameters of the master-planning exercise. The meeting endorsed the planning framework presented by the Surbana International Pte Ltd representatives, among others. Subsequently, the SADA Board requested Surbana International Pte Ltd to present a Service Proposal.
Said Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group CEO, Surbana Jurong Private Limited: “We are very happy to be a strategic partner for Ghana’s transformation. SJ has completed master plans for over 30 countries around the world, including 10 in Africa. This is our largest master planning project to date and we look forward to working closely with SADA to develop a master plan that all Ghanaians can be proud of.”
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