President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled plans to establish a new growth centre outside Accra and relocate several major government institutions as part of a long-term strategy to ease congestion in the capital and reduce its vulnerability to flooding.
The President made the announcement following an aerial tour of flood-affected communities, describing the initiative as a key pillar of the government’s broader flood mitigation efforts.
“We must also reduce the pressure on Accra by decongesting the city,” Mahama said.
He explained that the government aims to create a new urban centre where citizens can live, work, and invest, shifting away from over-concentration in the capital.
“Government is planning to relocate some major government institutions outside Accra while developing a new growth centre where people can live, work and build instead of concentrating development within the capital.”
The ambitious project is expected to unfold over approximately 20 years, with planning already in progress.
“We are currently working on the designs. Once they are completed, the land will be demarcated, and interested Ghanaians will be able to acquire plots and begin development,” the President added.
The government plans to provide essential infrastructure — including roads, water, electricity, and other services — to support the new city’s growth.
Mahama noted that Accra’s location between the Akwapim Mountain Range and the Atlantic Ocean historically allowed natural drainage, but decades of unchecked urban expansion have blocked many waterways.
“As the population has grown and development has intensified, buildings have increasingly obstructed the natural paths of these streams.”
He said engineering solutions to restore blocked waterways would complement the decongestion plan.
“Resolving Accra’s flooding problem will require a major national effort, but it is one we must undertake,” the President emphasized.
Mahama also called on Ghanaians to improve attitudes toward sanitation, waste disposal, and construction practices in flood-prone areas, stressing that sustainable solutions depend on both government action and public cooperation.
Source : myxyzonline/Emmanuel Nettey
