Feasibility studies for new national capital underway — Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama announced that feasibility studies are underway. These studies will help design a new national capital. The goal is to address rapid urbanization, traffic congestion, and inadequate infrastructure.

“It is time to think long-term,” Mr. Mahama said. He spoke at a durbar of Chiefs and people in Dodowa during his ‘Thank You’ visit last Friday.

The government is considering the design for this bold initiative. The new city will serve as a secondary administrative and commercial hub. It aims to decongest the capital by relocating some government offices and financial institutions.

Mr. Mahama believes the city will be located on the Accra plains. It will span across Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta regions. The new capital will stretch to the banks of the Volta River.

There will be a railway link and an expressway connecting it to Accra. President Mahama envisions a green, digital metropolis with industrial parks and tourist attractions. This city would operate as a 24-hour economy.

He noted that rapid urbanization has created pressing concerns needing permanent solutions.

To improve healthcare access, he plans to upgrade Ridge Hospital into a Teaching Hospital. “We will also construct Ridge Hospital Phase Two,” he added. This expansion aims to enhance specialist training in Greater Accra.

Other health projects include expanding CHIPS Compounds in peri-urban areas like Bortianor and Kpone. To support a vibrant economy, streetlights will be distributed across all districts in Greater Accra for better security.

President Mahama listed priority road projects for Greater Accra as well. These include rehabilitating major corridors and constructing an outer Ring Road. This road will help divert traffic away from central Accra.

“Trucks coming from Lome heading to Kumasi or Takoradi won’t need to pass through Accra,” he emphasized.

Ongoing projects include Adenta-Dodowa Road, La-Teshie Link, and Tema Harbour-Motorway Road among others. Traditional leaders expressed their confidence in President Mahama’s leadership under his ‘Reset Ghana’ agenda through Oboade Notse King Professor Odaifio Welentsi III.