Sierra Leone and Ghana Strengthen Urban Planning Controls

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senessie, announced the draft of a home‑grown National Building Code aimed at tightening construction standards and curbing illegal developments. He outlined a two‑day national validation workshop involving councils, civil society, ministries and development partners, after which the code will be submitted to the cabinet and Parliament for approval.

In Ghana, the National Development Planning Commission warned that weak enforcement of planning regulations could jeopardise the country’s Revised National Urban Policy (2026‑2035). Director‑General Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah stressed the need for stronger inter‑agency coordination, improved monitoring and greater accountability to ensure the policy’s success and to prevent breaches that undermine municipal authority.