The first steps towards a new UFI in Ghana
At the end of September, the teams from the UFI programme team left for Ghana. The team carried out a field mission to Tutingli, Bilpela and Lamakara to assess the potential implementation of an UFI to complement the Tamale Urban Resilience Project (TURP). These neighbourhoods have well-structured communities and a crucial need for accessible public spaces, despite limited land availability. The mission also highlighted major health challenges linked to the lack of waste management and sanitation infrastructure.
Initiated by AFD and TaMA, the mission aimed to prefigure the integration of the future UFI into the Tamale Urban Resilience Project (TURP). It provided an opportunity to gain a better understanding of local conditions prior to the design and implementation of public spaces and facilities in the communities of Tutingli, Lamakara and Bilpela.
In cooperation with local stakeholders in Tamale and Accra, a number of meetings were organised, with teams from TaMA, the Ministry of Local Governance and Decentralisation, as well as the G8 and AFD. Key activities included field visits to Tutingli and Bilpela, meetings with the Mayor of Tamale, various community representatives and a meeting with the Savannah Arts Centre to explore cultural placemaking initiatives.
A propos de TaMA
Tamale Metro Assembly (TaMA) is the administrative entity responsible for the governance and development of Tamale Metropolis, the capital of Ghana's Northern Region.
TaMA is responsible for coordinating development initiatives and essential services for the 116 communities in the metropolis, divided between urban, peri-urban and rural areas. As a strategic crossroads for inter-regional trade, TaMA takes advantage of its geographical position in the centre of northern Ghana to promote trade with other regions of Ghana, as well as with neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso and Togo. Its responsibilities cover a wide range of areas: regional planning, natural resource management, sanitation, public health, education and the promotion of local economic development.
About TURP
The Tamale Urban Resilience Project (TURP), or Tamale Urban Resilience Project, is an initiative aimed at strengthening the resilience of the city of Tamale in the face of urban and environmental challenges.
Financed and supported by the AFD, the TURP aims to improve the city's infrastructure and increase its capacity to deal with risks such as flooding, waste management and sanitation problems.
TURP's actions include the development of drainage networks to limit flooding, the construction of roads and access paths to facilitate travel, and the creation of public spaces to meet community needs. The project also incorporates a social dimension by involving local residents in the design and management of the infrastructure, to ensure that it meets local needs. At the same time, TURP aims to build the capacity of local authorities and stakeholders, ensuring better management of urban resources and promoting sustainable practices for Tamale's future.
The project is coordinating its work with other initiatives, such as Expertise France's Sustainable Cities programme and UFI Ghana, which would contribute to the temporary development of public spaces in support of TURP infrastructure.