The Member of Parliament for Bantama and former Minister for Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has strongly advocated for research-driven planning as the most sustainable approach to addressing Ghana's complex urban development challenges.Speaking at the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Laboratory at the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Mr Asenso-Boakye noted that issues such as unplanned settlements, housing shortages, and climate risks demand data-informed strategies, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.The new GIS lab, fully funded by the Bantama Asenso-Boakye Foundation, houses 50 high-performance computers, laptops, and advanced GIS software.
It is designed to serve as a dynamic hub for learning and research for both students and faculty."From land use regulation to disaster risk management, GIS enables us to act strategically and sustainably," Mr Asenso-Boakye stated.
He added that Ghana's future rests on the shoulders of a new generation of planners who must be equipped not only with theoretical knowledge, but with practical tools and real-time data to make informed, high-impact decisions.An alumnus of the Department of Planning, Mr Asenso-Boakye fondly recalled his time at KNUST, where he served as Financial Secretary and later President of the student association within the then Faculty of Environmental and Development Studies."Returning here is not only a homecoming; it is a moment of thanksgiving.
I am forever grateful to this Department, to my lecturers, and to my mentors who guided my early steps.
