Richard Appiah

Organized Urban Planner and exceptional multitasker with top-notch verbal, ICT and written communication skills. Offering over 8 years of hands-on experience in land use planning and built environment issues, including: map preparation; review and preparation of planning scheme; planning legislation, stakeholder consultation; change of use / rezoning report, building permitting process (collecting, analyzing and recording data on progress of planning permission application and responding to queries about planning permission application process).

Urban Planner - Freelancer - Ghana

(2024-01)

• Develop land use plans for sustainable urban projects, including the Seventh Day Church's Oguakrom plan.
• Facilitate the acquisition of development permits in various districts across Ghana, e.g., securing DH4 demolition and planning permits.
• Advise clients on planning legislation and development permit procurement in Ghana, including the Apostolic Church and the Church of Pentecost.
• Provide strategic site selection guidance for outdoor advertising, based on field data analysis.
• Prepare GIS maps and urban planning reports, including change of use, and subdivision documentation upon request.
• Assist in drone piloting.

Assistant Town Planning Officer - Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority - Ghana

(2019-07 - 2023-07)

• Monitored and evaluated activities of physical planning department in compliance with Ghanaian legislation and policies.
• Provided technical assistance for street naming and property address maps using ArcGIS for Ayawaso Central Municipality.
• Organized spatial planning initiatives to enhance community development and infrastructure.
• Mentored physical planning officers on urban planning best practices, fostering professional growth.
• Conducted training sessions on QGIS for effective map preparation techniques.
• Advised public and private clients on zoning regulations and permit requirements, facilitating development processes.
• Maintained current knowledge of industry trends and legislative changes to support informed planning decisions.
• Developed strategies based on up-to-date information to improve departmental effectiveness.

Assistant Development Planning Officer - Accra Metropolitan Assembly - Accra, Ghana

(2013-07 - 2019-07)

• Conducted a site inspection to affirm the drawings submitted to the department for a development permit or planning permit.
• Improved overall department efficiency by streamlining the process for development applications for permits through the provision of a checklist and interpersonal communication with applicants.
• Vetted development applications submitted to the Assembly for development permits before forwarding them to the Sub-Technical and Spatial Planning Committee meetings.
• Enhanced communication between the department and development applicants through correspondence after meetings, via text messages, and letters.
• Reviewed outdated planning schemes within the Assembly using modern software tools such as ArcGIS, QGIS. Example: the revision of the North Alajo Planning Scheme - 2016.
• Prepared thematic maps for the Assembly by using the ArcGIS software.
• Drove innovation within the department by promoting creative thinking and supporting new initiatives, such as the use of GIS and the creation of templates for PowerPoint presentations.
• Spearheaded successful projects from conception through completion, showing strong project management abilities. E.g., GIZ project 'Data Collection for Exposure Modelling and Economic for Climate Solution' (2018-2019).

Service Person - Accra Metro Town and Country Planning Office - Accra, Ghana

(2012-01 - 2013-06)

• Writing of site inspection reports and data entry of development application submitted to the department for permit.
• Writing minutes during meetings.
• Streamlined process by recording measurements and taking of pictures of development application submitted for permit during site visitation.
• Improved customer satisfaction by assisting planning officer in providing timely and efficient service in relation to their work schedule.

Enumerator - CHF - Accra, Ghana

(2011-06 - 2011-06)

• Improved data accuracy by diligently conducting door to door surveys and recording responses for the project 'Scaling up Nima'.
• Enhanced survey completion rates through establishing rapport with respondents and understanding of the surveys purpose.
• Maintained confidentiality of respondent information by adhering to strict privacy products during data collection.
• Increased efficiency in data entry by accurately inputting collected information into designated database system (SPSS).

MSc. - Geo-Information Science - University of Ghana (2017-07)

BSc. - Human Settlement Planning - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2012-08)

Senior Secondary School Certificate - General Arts - St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School (2005-01)