The Ghana Institute of Planning (GIP) inducted Her Excellency Pln. Halima Mahama as a Fellow of the Institute on Thursday, 18th January, 2024 at the Office of the Head of Local Government Service (OHLGS) auditorium.
The induction ceremony was to acknowledge her meticulous contribution in the practice of planning in Ghana and beyond through decentralized planning, gender mainstreaming in politics, and serving as a role model for female planners in Ghana. Her Excellency Pln. Halima Mahama (FGIP) is a Former Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, and currently serves as the Ghana Ambassador to USA. She has an advanced academic background in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in the Hague, as well as Urban Policy and Planning and Women’s Studies from Rutgers University, USA. She has also offered technical assistance in helping the Liberian government, OXFAM, IFAD, and Action Aid Ghana achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 between 2009 and 2011.
Notable among her achievements, are spearheading the campaign to pass the Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Acts and also being instrumental in the formulation of the National Decentralization Policy and Strategy (2020-2040) to foster decentralized quality service delivery, active citizens’ participation in local economic growth, income generation and poverty alleviation, advocacy and implementation of Gender Planning in the rural water supply value chain in NORRIP, the formulation of Gender and Development strategy for Ghana, Gender Mainstreaming and Budgeting as an integral part of Ghana’s economic policy statement, Formulation of Rural Development Policy, Ghana Secondary Cities Program, Ghana Productive Safety Net Project and an alternative Livelihood Program for thirty-five(35) severely affected mining districts across the country.
The President of the Institute, Pln. Percy Anaab Bukari (FGIP) welcomed all dignitaries and members present and highlighted the importance of professional membership in the field of practice. The Immediate Past President of GIP, Pln. Mohammed A. Damba (FGIP) in delivering the keynote address, called for enforcement of policies to address socioeconomic development shortfalls in Ghana. He acknowledged the ongoing efforts by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) for imitating discussion on key issues that needs to be addressed to facilitate comprehensive national development. He added that GIP would continue to advocate for a long-term national development framework that transcends political cycles and ensures continuity.
Her Excellency Pln. Alima Mahama acknowledged the Institute for following her progress and impacts over the years and honouring her as a Fellow. She stated that, planning is cross-cutting in all spheres of life and its practitioners deserved to be addressed ‘Learned Profession’. She added that planning is about data, design, resources, process, inclusion, results and assessment of impact and outcomes, and her career has always been underpinned by the concept and principles of planning. She added that, the recognition and award does not only honour her individual contributions but also reflects the collaborative spirit of countless individuals who have worked tirelessly along with her. She also perceived the Fellow membership as a call to vigorously promote the image of the Institute as well as build on her modest efforts and be a professional worthy enough for other noble members of the Institute especially women to be inspired.
Dignitaries noted for gracing the event are Ambassador. Perpetual O. Dufu (Rep. of Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey), Coordinating Director/Multilateral and Organization Bureau – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Pln. Rev. Stephen Yaw Osei (MGIP) (Rep. of Works and Housing Minister), The Chief Director, Ministry of Works and Housing; Ms. Laetitia Erny, Head of Component, PAIReD Programme – GIZ, Ghana; Pln. Anthony Kanyi Foli – Adade (Rep. for Ms. Alice Abena Ofori-Atta), Head of the Environmental Unit – TDC Ghana Ltd. Tema; Pln. Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur (MGIP), Head of Service – Office of the Head of Local Government Service; and Pln. Lilian Baeka, Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Director, RCC.
