Michael Kpakpo Allotey has been confirmed as the new Mayor of Accra following a unanimous vote by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) a show of confidence that sets the tone for what he calls a “new chapter” for the capital city.
Known for his grassroots energy and technocratic leanings, Allotey enters office with a bold plan to clean up the city, reduce traffic chaos, expand economic opportunities, and increase revenue without leaving ordinary residents behind.
Speaking after his confirmation, Allotey pledged to make Accra “cleaner, more liveable, and more inclusive,” starting with a 100-day push to tackle sanitation and traffic headaches while laying the groundwork for longer-term reforms.
His flagship Clean Accra Initiative will include monthly community clean-up campaigns, stronger partnerships with private waste firms, a new Digital Waste Reporting App for residents to flag issues and pilot recycling hubs and a citizen reward system to encourage participation.
“The state of our environment affects our dignity,” Allotey said. “Clean streets aren’t a luxury, they’re a necessity.”
To address daily gridlock, Allotey is forming a Traffic Decongestion Task Force to also ease pressure at key intersections, improve parking spaces in busy commercial zones and coordinate closely with the police on enforcement and flow.
Allotey also wants to modernize how the city collects money without burdening the poorest.
His plans include rolling out a digital revenue collection system, revising outdoor advertising fees to match economic realities and investing in tourism initiatives to grow Accra’s profile and income.
Recognizing the city’s growing youth population, Allotey is prioritizing jobs and entrepreneurship.
These key steps include launching a Youth Job and Entrepreneurship Fair, setting up business support desks within AMA and upgrading local markets as hubs for commerce and innovation.
Allotey’s tone is practical but hopeful. “This work can’t be done from behind a desk,” he told AMA members. “It’ll take communities, businesses, and government pulling in the same direction.”
His first 100 days, he added, will be about proving that change is possible and that leadership can feel local again.
By: J.W Quarm
