Incorporate Climate-Proof Plans into Successive Projects to Undertake- Coordingating Directors Admonished

The Head of Local Government Service, Prof. Lord Mensah, has urged Coordinating Directors of Respective Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country to prioritize eco-friendly plans and implementation of developmental projects to safeguard public investments against the growing impacts of climate change.

He said climate change is increasingly affecting communities and local economies through flooding, coastal erosion, extreme weather events and other environmental pressures, making it imperative for MMDAs to integrate climate considerations into their development plans.

Prof. Lord Mensah made the call at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Coordingating Directors of Ghana (ASCOD) in a 5-day conference held in Cape Coast on the theme, 'Transforming District Assemblies for Sustainable Development: The Role of Coordingating Directors,' which turns to host Coordinating Directors across the country to the Central Regional capital.

According to the Local Government Service Head, local government institutions are at the frontline of responding to climate-related challenges, since they operate closest to affected communities and hence urged Coordinating Directors to ensure that climate risks are considered from the project-planning stage rather than waiting until disasters occur before responding.

He said development projects should be subjected to appropriate assessments to determine their vulnerability to flooding, erosion, extreme rainfall and other environmental hazards before execution. Adding that incorporating climate resilient measures at the beginning of projects could reduce future costs associated with repairs, reconstruction and disaster response.

Speaking on behalf of the Central Regional Minister, the Mayor of Cape Coast, Hon. George Justice Arthur, encouraged Coordinating Directors gathered at the conference to ensure that projects of the government does not remain on paper but rather become programmes, projects and services that citizens can see and feel, since they're the institutional memory and engine-rooms of the Assemblies.

He again charged them to strengthen coordination among departments, insist on discipline and teamwork, protect public resources and protect their Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives with sound professional advice.

Francis Dwira Darko, President for the Association of Coordingating Directors of Ghana (ASCOD) at the gathering, shared the association's believe that effective implementation of any government project depends on leadership, which as Coordinating Directors they see themselves as major stakeholders to such implementations.

He further disclosed that one major challenge facing Coordinating Directors has to do with the provision and allocation of official vehicles to them, as new vehicles are always procured for their MMDCEs, only to have the old ones handed over to them.

Sompaonline.com// Eric Annan