Implementation of Digital Property Address System begins

Government has started the implementation of the Digital Property Address System (DPAS) with about 12,750 Nation Builders Corp (NABCO) personnel posted nationwide to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to commence operations.

The personnel would be engaged in data collection with the use of technological gadgets to identify and tag properties as well as map out lands.

They have been scheduled to undergo software training besides other modules to assist technocrats on the ground from the Ministry of Development and Special Initiative (MDSI) at the local level.

Mr Mubarak Bowan, the Director of Business Research and Skills Development at NABCO, said this during a national consultative meeting held in Wa to brief stakeholders on the DPAS implementation process and other ongoing government flagship programmes in the assemblies.

“The NABCO trainees who did not receive postings were kept purposely for this special programme and they would be assisting our technocrats at the various MMDAs,” he said.

Mr Chapman Owusu-Sekyere, an official from the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, said out of the 12,750 NABCO trainees despatched, 10,000 were fresh from the pool of unplaced personnel.

The rest of 2,750 were picked from the Civic Corps to address a minimum of 4,000,000 houses estimated to cost GH¢55.6 million within two months.

He said each of the 254 assemblies in the country would receive a minimum of 50 NABCO personnel comprising of 25 groups with two personnel each in a group to cover about 630 houses.

Even though the personnel would be paid by government, he said, the MMDAs should support them with logistics as well as giving out accurate information.

Mr Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, said the Regional Coordinating Council has written to all the 11 Municipal and District Assemblies to set up committees for implementation of the DPAS programme.

He described the programme as one of the topmost priorities of President Nana Akufo-Addo and urged the MDCEs to ensure its effective implementation.