Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has announced plans to initiate a feasibility study for constructing a new city outside Accra. This ambitious project aims to address the severe congestion in the capital and stimulate economic growth by creating a new growth pole and generating thousands of jobs during and after the construction phase.
While Accra will continue to serve as the capital, Mahama envisions the new city as a strategic relocation for certain government ministries, departments, agencies, and financial institutions. This move is intended to decongest Accra, improving livability and efficiency.
The proposed city, potentially spanning the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta regions, would be situated near the Volta Lake. Mahama described it as a green, digital metropolis with tourist and amusement attractions, industrial parks, and financial services, envisioned as a 24-hour city that never sleeps.
“We will commence a feasibility study with a plan to construct a new city. Accra is grid-locked, and the time has arrived for us to relocate certain parts of the government services from Accra. Accra will remain the capital, but we will transfer a portion of it elsewhere,” Mahama announced during an interaction with the European Union Chamber of Commerce on May 28, 2024.
He highlighted the availability of land on the Accra Plains and the opposite bank of the Volta Lake, where a port terminal is being established in Mpakadan to facilitate cargo transport to northern Ghana. This region offers ample space for relocating ministries, agencies, and departments, thus alleviating congestion in Accra.
“Accra has expanded to its limits, and if we are not cautious, managing it as a sustainable city will become difficult. Thus, we will initiate the planning, design, and feasibility process. I anticipate that this project may take around 20 years to complete, but we need to take the first steps. Subsequent generations can then continue where we left off,” Mahama stated.
Mahama also assured citizens during his Building Ghana Tour of efforts to decongest the industrial enclave of the Tema area, shifting industrialization and job creation towards the western corridor. This initiative is part of a broader vision to balance development across the country, enhancing economic opportunities and quality of life.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com
