Integrate Informal Sector Activities Into Mainstream Of Land Use Planning Processes – Planner Calls

The Physical Development Planning Director at the Sunyani West Municipal Assembly, Ms Gifty Nyarko has called for the integration of the informal sector activities into the mainstream land use planning processes.

The informal sector workers are estimated to be about 85 per cent of Ghana’s workforce, but without access to basic protection and services of the state, she said.

Ms Nyarko cited that petty traders doing porridge business, those selling waakye, kenkey, pepper and others don’t need a building plot size of land before they could do business, but because there were no proper system and arrangements for them, they are seen as a threat to city management, yet can’t find an antidote to the situation.

Speaking to the media in an interview over the weekend, Ms Nyarko stated “informality does not mean illegality, just that they have not been integrated into the mainstream land use planning”.

She, therefore, suggested that zoning about 20 feet square for each of them in a nice shed to do their business would avoid issues of city authorities pounding on them for eviction in the name of decongestion.

She further observed that regularizing activities of the informal sector could also avoid the issue of some of them selling in unhygienic and unauthorized areas.

According to her, the role of strategic infrastructure is key in rebuilding a robust economy, saying, infrastructure is the pivot of development, it plays the role of oil or fuel in vehicular movement.

Touching on community engagement in planning processes, Ms Nyarko said the local people are key partners in infrastructure provision, therefore, the communities should be informed as participants of the land use planning process.

This is because they have to be in the known of their stake in national development.

She noted there need to be a shift of attention from the government being the sole producer of everything, therefore the Assemblies can build the interest of the public in initiating infrastructure development project as their contribution to national development.