By
Samuel Dodoo, GNA
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – A five-day workshop on
slum upgrading, learning and exchange programme has been opened in Accra for 23
representatives from six African countries to learn from Accra’s best practices
in improving the living standards of slum dwellers.
The workshop is being organised by the
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and UN-Habitat to develop
the capacities of local, national and regional decision makers in slum
upgrading and methods for community engagement through the city-wide slum
upgrading strategies and demonstration programmes.
The participating countries are Ghana,
Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Madagascar, Lesotho and the Philippines.
Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, the Accra Metropolitan
Chief Executive in an address said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has
contributed $250,000 towards the third phase of a Participatory Slum Upgrading
Programme (PSUP) in Ga Mashie and has internalized the programmes’ approach and
its contributions to addressing the needs of informal settlers in Accra.
He said the success of the Ga Mashie Project
would be replicated in other informal settlements within the metropolis.
Mr Sowah pointed out that the implementation
of the programme has contributed positively in the areas of local economic
development through the improvement of public spaces and localised banking.
“Over 800 people have been provided with
monetary support, more household toilets have been constructed to improve
accessibility to toilet facilities, a recreational centre has been
provided for children and youth in Ga Mashie to develop opportunities in
alternative sporting,” he said.
He urged the PSUP participants to consider
co-financing the programme to deepen its impact and create separate
budgets to upgrade informal settlements.
Mr Kwesi Adjei Boateng, the Deputy Minister of
Local Government and Rural Development indicated that the successful
implementation of the third phase of the PSUP did not only transform the
community but also boosted the living standards of the local people and created
jobs through the establishment and operationalization of the Community Managed
Funds.
He said that, the AMA under the PSUP, has
constructed 4,050 square meter walkways and public spaces, renovated Home Work
Centre and a recreational facility to provide conducive atmosphere for over 100
children in the community to learn.
Mr Boateng expressed the hope that the
training programme would enhance and build the capacities of participants to
effectively deal with the practical challenges that confronted urban
settlements.
He urged the participants to strengthen the
sister network relationships and come out with strategies and innovations for
improving sanitation and solid waste management in slums.
Ms Kerstin Sommer, the Leader of the Slum
Upgrading Unit and the PSUP; UN-Habitat, on her part, said the Menu of
Services (MOS) approach provided countries the opportunity to evaluate their
slum upgrading needs in terms of policy frameworks, capacities at national,
city and community levels.
She noted Ghana’s experience in the
implementation of the previous PSUP cycles, which she said were amongst the
best practices in the PSUP implementation and urged participants to share
experiences.
The PSUP is a programme financed by the
European Commission (EC) and the Political advocacy of Africa, Caribbean and
Pacific Group (ACP) of States and designed to improve living standards of slum
dwellers in the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and cities.
GNA