- A multi-stakeholder validation workshop was held to assess baseline data across 108 districts to inform Ghana’s revised National Urban Policy.
- The event was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, with broad representation from national institutions and development partners.
- The Urban Baseline Report will support evidence-based planning, addressing data gaps in service delivery, gender, disability and climate resilience.
Joseph Ayitio, Senior Urban Planner, giving a presentation on the Urban Baseline Report.
On 2 May 2025, the Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy Programme (GCIEP) convened a multi-stakeholder workshop in Accra to validate the Draft Urban Baseline Report – a foundational component of Ghana’s revised National Urban Policy.
Held in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), the session brought together 40 representatives from across government, academia and development partners, including the European Union Commission, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana Meteorological Agency, National Disaster Management Organisation, Municipal and District Assemblies, Ministry of Works and Housing, LUSPA, University of Ghana, and others.
The Urban Baseline Report analyses 88 indicators from 108 districts across Ghana. It provides a crucial evidence base to monitor the performance of the revised National Urban Policy, identify data gaps and inform more inclusive and climate-resilient urban planning. The report will underpin GCIP’s support to national and local authorities, enabling more robust tracking of progress in urban development, service provision and climate risk management.
The workshop, chaired by Mr. Samuel Seth Passah, Director of the Local Governance and Decentralisation Directorate at MLGCRA, allowed participants to examine methodologies, verify findings and shape final recommendations. Discussions focused on strengthening disaggregated data—particularly for gender, disability and geospatial access—to better reflect the needs of vulnerable groups often left behind in urban policy implementation.
The validation also highlighted the importance of enhancing institutional capacity to collect, analyse and report on urban indicators. This aligns closely with GCIEP’s commitment to improving urban data systems as part of strengthening inclusive governance and service delivery frameworks.
According to Mr. Passah, “The baseline report not only establishes data gaps but also makes recommendations for addressing them, including indicators such as access to recreational and child, disability and gender-friendly facilities, urban mobility and improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for an informed urban development decision-making.”
The next phase of work will involve finalising the report based on feedback from the workshop, conducting an institutional capacity assessment and developing a comprehensive monitoring, learning and evaluation framework to monitor progress against the revised National Urban Policy.
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Published
14/05/25