Some members of the Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) have paid a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to formally introduce their newly elected leaders.
The 13-member council includes the President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Social Secretary, two additional members, and representatives from Central University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The delegation, which was led by the new President, Tony Asare, aimed to strengthen ties with the Ga Mantse, who is also the custodian of portions of the Ga lands.
The move formed part of the institute’s strategic engagements with key traditional rulers and political leaders to foster collaboration on urban planning and land use policies.
It is also to discuss pressing issues relating to land governance, urban planning and redevelopment.
Importance
In an interview, the President of the institute underscored the need to engage with traditional leaders in national development.
Mr Asare said development could happen without land, adding that,” since most land in Ghana is owned by traditional rulers and families, it is imperative to involve chiefs in discussions on urban planning.”
Mr Asare stressed the need for architects and urban planners to work closely with chiefs to ensure sustainable development.
“Our visit to the Ga Mantse was crucial for multiple reasons. Firstly, he is the overlord of the Ga State, where our head office is located.
It is important for us to pay our respects and formally introduce our new leadership to him,” Mr Asare said.
“Another reason for our visit is because the king’s late father, Dr Tackie, was a respected architect and former head of the Department of Architecture at KNUST. He was a stalwart in the country’s architectural community, who made immense contributions to the profession,” he said.
Mr Asare added that the King was also a strong advocate of proper land use and urban redevelopment.
He, therefore, assured the Ga Mantse of the institute’s commitment to ensure that land use and urban planning decisions were inclusive, bringing together chiefs, policymakers and technical experts.
“Moving forward, we will expand our stakeholder engagements beyond government institutions such as the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Works and Housing to actively involve chiefs and local landowners,” he added.
Mr Asare said the institute would extend similar visits to other key traditional leaders, including the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to discuss urban planning and redevelopment strategies.
He emphasised the recurring urban challenges such as the frequent fires at Makola and Kantamanto markets, which had led to uncoordinated reconstruction efforts.
Mr Asare stressed the need for a well-structured urban development plan that prioritised safety, economic sustainability and modern infrastructure.
He revealed that following the recent fire outbreak at Kantamanto, the institute had initiated a series of design competitions to propose innovative solutions for the affected areas.
Welcome
The Ga Mantse welcomed the delegation and expressed his support for greater collaboration between traditional rulers and architects.
He highlighted ongoing projects such as the Rawlings Park, Marine Beach Drive Project and the Enterprise Insurance Project, Kantamanto, Community Centre, underscoring the need for urban planning that balanced modern development with cultural heritage preservation.
“I have received a number of investors who have also expressed interest in redeveloping some areas of Ga State,” he said.
King Teiko Tsuru II commended the architects and acknowledged their expertise as invaluable in ensuring that Accra’s development remained structured, sustainable and inclusive.
“You will be needed to provide advice for these projects when they take off to support the stool to advance development in Accra,” he added.
