1. New concept of Urban Planning (Strategic Planning Versus MasterPlanning)
Strategic and action planning is made up of several components. Firstly, the financial aspect of
this approach makes it imperative. Thus, it links infrastructural investment, the capital needed to
fund developmental projects. This is done through the allocation of budgets and prioritizing
infrastructure investment. Moreover, the component which cannot be underestimated is the
Institutional framework. This component defines responsibilities to various actors and
stakeholders during the planning process. Commitment cannot be overlooked in the new approach
of planning, different stakeholder participation are required to ensure healthy relationship among
actors to build consensus during the decision making process. Notwithstanding, the new urban
planning is also associated with certain challenges. Davidson (1996, p.8) argues that: ‘’Problems
in development then created a desire for the legal backing of plans to offset the powerful forces of
the private sector. This was often embedded into law, giving statutory development plans’’; unlike
statutory planning which has a strong legal basis, development opportunities are likely to favor the
private sector, if the new urban planning approach is not underpinned by an efficient legal
framework in making an inclusionary plan.
It is crucial to combine the two approaches of performance oriented planning, in that, the two
complement each other. This is clearly seen in the situation whereby a strategic plan requires strong
legal framework to actualize its goals. Statutory planning requires minimal level of participation
with low commitment; strategic planning exist to augment the level of participation during the
process of decision making so as to ensure effectiveness in carrying out statutory plans. Moreover,
the combination of the two approaches tend to delay the planning process, in that, the bureaucratic
and rigid nature of statutory planning is likely to cause ‘‘divisions amongst planning departments
and makes changes very difficult, even in non-critical areas’’ (Davidson, 1996, p.10).
Participation is one of the essential components in modern day planning. This is due to the fact
that, it sets in motion inclusionary nature of the planning process. It improves the commitment
level of various stakeholders. Participation stresses on ‘’the importance of changing the behavior
of people and organizations, and the nature of policy design and development in social learning
and transformation processes’’ (Healey, 2011, p.5). This also goes a long way to define, measure
and manage various interest, influence in ensuring performance oriented results. On the contrary,
participation should be linked to a tangible benefit and also it needs capacity on all stakeholders
to make it work other than that the planning process is rendered ineffective.
Kumasi is the second largest city in Ghana next to Accra with, a population more than 2 million
people (KMA, 2015). Strategic urban planning has enhanced the prioritization of infrastructural
investment within the metropolitan area through the allocation of budget for funding projects of
the city. The advent of strategic planning has enhanced stakeholder participation during the process
of decision making, in that, it raises their level of commitment and awareness concerning the socio-
economic development of the city.

2. Notwithstanding, there are challenges associated with the strategic planning in the city of Kumasi.
One of them is the lack of strong legal framework within planning possess to help actualize urban
goals. Since, this approach requires higher level of integration to manage scarce resources. A lower
level of integration among various department leads to setbacks hindering the developmental
projects of the city. Strategic planning is appropriate approach in the city, it considers a bottom up
approach, though technical decision are made by officials, much attention is given to the local
people who are actually the beneficiaries of the plans that are made. (595 words)
Reference List
Davidson, F., 1996, Planning for Performance: Requirements for sustainable Development,
Habitat International 20(3):445-462.Available:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V9H-3VVVNRO-
C2/2/4348f5c8deed4cd792e30a6f1f7f11b8
Healey, P.,2011. The universal and the contingent: Some reflections on the transnational flow of
planning ideas and practices. Planning Theory, 11(2), pp.188-207. Available at:
http://plt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/long/11/2/188 [Accessed October 4, 2012].
Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, working for cleaner city. Available:
http://www.kma.gov.gh/kma/?brief-on-kma&page=5143,[ Accessed on 24th December, 2015].