The UN believes that cities need support to become resilient and develop their capacity to absorb the impact of hazards, protect and preserve human life and limit damage to and destruction of public and private assets while continuing to provide infrastructure and services after a crisis.
Meanwhile, in creating Smarter Cities, the French Development Agency in Ghana, Agence Française De Développement is undertaking a number of interventions under its Urban Management Project.
The Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project, GUMPP aims to improve the living conditions in urban areas for inhabitants of the four selected cities Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale and Ho.
The project under the supervision of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will promote sustainable development from a financial, environmental, and social perspective. Under the GUMPP project, 72 stores were built and allocated to traders at the Aboabo market in Tamale.
Due to the rehabilitation of the Savilugu Lorry Park within the market which is one of the key facilities in the area, it is now easy for vehicles to access the market to off load goods belonging to the traders.
Following the rehabilitation, the traders say they have won their clients back. According to one of the market women, Hamdiya Iddrisu, economic activity has been boosted adding that they can now keep their children in school.
Another component of the project is the upgrade of two adjoining communities, Tishiegu and Mossi Zongo on the Tamale-Bolgatanga road which passes through these two communities.
In the past, it took so long to ply the road from one end to the other. When it rained, due to tits muddy nature of the roads, no activity could take place.
People found it difficult to go through the mud and the streets were empty and so shop owners did not see the need to open their shops.
With the upgrade of these two communities, people who drive through the city have the possibility of diverting to other parts to do business without the usual traffic.
This gives them easy access to their destinations. Assembly Member for Salamba, Mahama Abdalla, said pregnant women who, during emergency cases, had difficulties getting vehicles to take them to the hospital due to the deplorable nature of the roads are now spared the ordeal of going on motorbikes.
The pregnant women now have easy access to health facilities. An abattoir for improved hygienic conditions and youth employment has also been provided for the people of Tamale. Under the project, the abattoir was partly refurbished, including the provision of the slaughter house and access to clean water.
Some young people in the area have seized the opportunity to bring animals from other markets for the slaughter house.
This creates a source of income for these young men who hitherto used to loiter around the market.
According to President of the Association of Butchers, Abdul Rashid Mummuni, the development has also increased the sale of livestock in the market because people are confident that they will get a safe place to slaughter their animals so they prefer buying from there.
And as they go buying animals they also do other shopping in the market leading to the overall increase in economic activity.
Story by: Rebecca Ekpe
