President John Dramani Mahama has announced an ambitious long-term plan to build a new city outside Accra and relocate selected major state institutions there as part of efforts to reduce congestion in Ghana’s capital. Speaking after recent devastating floods that claimed lives and destroyed homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, the President said Ghana must move beyond short-term flood responses and embrace strategic urban planning.
The proposal comes after severe flooding exposed Accra’s growing vulnerability due to rapid urbanisation, poor drainage systems, and overcrowding. Mahama stressed that while government will continue investing in improved drainage infrastructure, a more sustainable solution is to decongest the capital by creating a fully planned city capable of supporting government offices, businesses, and residential communities.
👉🏽 Join 15,000+ readers online now. Join our WhatsApp Daily News Channel for breaking updates:
According to the President, the proposed city would take approximately 20 years to develop and would feature modern roads, reliable electricity, clean water supply, housing, commercial centres, and government institutions designed to encourage citizens and public agencies to relocate. The initiative forms part of a broader national development strategy aimed at creating resilient cities while reducing pressure on Accra’s overstretched infrastructure.
Urban planning experts have long argued that decentralising government functions could ease traffic congestion, improve service delivery, and lower disaster risks in the capital. If implemented successfully, the project could become one of Ghana’s most significant infrastructure developments in decades.
The announcement has already generated widespread public debate, with many Ghanaians welcoming the vision while raising questions about financing, implementation timelines, and ensuring that existing challenges in Accra are addressed alongside the long-term project.
