Feasibility Studies for New National Capital Underway — Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that feasibility studies are currently underway for the establishment of a new national capital, aimed at addressing the growing challenges posed by rapid urbanisation, traffic congestion, and overstretched infrastructure in Accra.
Speaking at a durbar of chiefs and residents in Dodowa during his ‘Thank You’ tour last Friday, the President emphasised the need for long-term planning to alleviate the pressure on the current capital.
“It is time to think long-term and plan for a new city to ease this burden,” President Mahama stated.
He revealed that the government is already considering a design and feasibility study for what he described as a bold and forward-looking initiative. The proposed city would function as a secondary administrative and commercial hub, allowing for the relocation of selected government ministries, departments, agencies, and financial institutions to help decongest Accra.
President Mahama disclosed that the new city is likely to be sited on the Accra plains, stretching from Bundase and covering parts of the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta regions.
“The city will straddle three regions,” he noted, adding that it would extend to the banks of the Volta River and be connected to Accra via an expressway and a railway line.
Envisioning a modern urban centre, Mahama described the new capital as a green, digital city that will host industrial parks, financial institutions, and tourist destinations, all operating within a 24-hour economy framework. He stressed that this plan is a response to the pressing need for sustainable solutions to urban challenges.
As part of efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure, President Mahama also announced plans to upgrade the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) into a full-fledged teaching hospital. He said construction of Phase Two of the Ridge Hospital project would further increase its capacity and enable specialist medical training, reducing the need for external referrals.
Additional healthcare projects, he noted, include the expansion of CHPS Compounds in peri-urban communities such as Bortianor, Kpone, and Shai Osu-Doku.
To support the envisioned 24-hour economy and improve public safety, Mahama pledged the mass installation of streetlights across all districts in the Greater Accra Region.
On infrastructure development, the President outlined several priority road projects aimed at improving traffic flow and connectivity. These include the rehabilitation of major road corridors, expansion of existing roads, and construction of an Outer Ring Road designed to divert transit traffic away from central Accra.
“This means that trucks coming from Lome and heading to Kumasi or Takoradi will no longer need to pass through Accra. They’ll use the Outer Ring Road to continue their journey,” he explained.
Some key road projects highlighted include the Adenta-Dodowa Road, the La-Teshie Link, the Tema Harbour–Tema General Hospital–Motorway Road, Apolonia–Oyibi Road, and the Tema Motorway Expansion. Other sections marked for reconstruction include Dahwenya to Afienya, Afienya to Dodowa, Doryumu to Dodowa, and Ashaiman to Madina.
Nungua Mantse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Oboade Notse King Professor Odaifio Welentsi III, expressed strong support for the President’s initiatives. He reaffirmed the chiefs’ confidence in Mahama’s leadership, noting the positive developments already evident under his ‘Reset Ghana’ agenda.
