TEMA, Ghana, 4 July: The Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has thrown his support behind President John Dramani Mahama’s proposal to construct a new city to serve as Ghana’s administrative capital, describing the initiative as a bold and necessary step towards addressing Accra’s growing urban challenges.
President Mahama recently announced plans to develop a new city aimed at easing congestion in the national capital, Accra. The proposal has since generated widespread public interest and debate, with many weighing its potential economic and developmental impact.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, July 4, Mr. Koomson said it was time for Ghana to reconsider Accra as the country’s sole capital, arguing that the city has become overstretched by the multiple roles it plays as the nation’s political, commercial, administrative and cultural centre.
According to him, Accra’s rapid population growth has placed enormous pressure on road networks, sanitation systems, housing and other essential public services, making it increasingly difficult to sustain efficient urban management.
He argued that relocating state ministries and key government institutions to an inland city would help decentralise government activities, reduce daily traffic congestion, and ease the pressure on Accra’s overstretched infrastructure.
Abraham Koomson further noted that Accra’s location near sea level makes it highly vulnerable to recurrent flooding, which continues to disrupt economic activities and threaten lives and property whenever heavy rains occur.
He maintained that establishing an inland administrative capital would reduce the country’s exposure to such climate-related disruptions while creating opportunities for more balanced national development.
The GFL Secretary General also stressed that the concentration of government institutions and public investment in Accra has contributed to regional development disparities.
According to him, relocating government operations would stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and accelerate infrastructure development in historically underserved regions, helping to spread national growth more equitably.
To support his argument, Mr. Koomson pointed to countries that have successfully separated their administrative and commercial capitals. He cited Nigeria, which relocated its capital from Lagos to Abuja to address congestion and promote balanced national development, as well as Tanzania, which moved its seat of government from Dar es Salaam to the centrally located city of Dodoma.
He said Ghana could draw valuable lessons from these examples as it explores the possibility of establishing a new administrative capital to support long-term national development.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
