The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable and inclusive urban development through a series of stakeholder consultative meetings on the Ghana Smart Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Cities Programme.
The meetings, held across the Ashiedu Keteke, Okaikoi South, and Ablekuma South Sub-Metropolitan Districts, were designed to raise awareness of the SDGs, promote peace, and ensure that “no one is left behind” in the city’s development process.
The initiative is part of the AMA’s mandate to localise and implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals using a data-driven and participatory approach. Key focus areas include:
Inclusive governance and community participation, Effective service delivery, Climate resilience and environmental sustainability, Smart infrastructure development and Broad-Based Support
Engagements centred on Ghana’s Smart SDG targets and indicators and emphasised the importance of stakeholder involvement to guarantee broad-based support for the programme’s implementation.
Addressing participants, Mr. Noble Atsu Ahadzie, Director of Budget at the AMA, said Accra was one of ten cities nationwide selected for the Smart SDG Cities Programme, which is supported by the Government of Ghana, the Government of Norway, and UN-Habitat.
“Our objective is to use reliable data and collaborative strategies to transform Accra into a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable city,” Mr. Ahadzie stated.
The Ghana Smart SDG Cities Programme is a national initiative designed to integrate the SDGs into urban development planning at the local level. It seeks to enhance transparency, promote peace, and build resilience against the challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate change.
By involving community actors, the AMA hopes to foster a sense of ownership and accountability in achieving the SDGs by 2030.