General News of Friday, 31 May 2024
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
Samuel Koku Anyidoho has praised former President John Dramani Mahama's pledge to develop a new administrative region outside the capital Accra.
Anyidoho described the move as a "good idea," but demanded more details of the project.
Among others, he wants to the roll-out plan over the four-year tenure that Mahama will serve if he wins the 2024 polls and where the new city will be located.
"John Mahama is promising a new “Administrative City” outside Accra. Respectfully, can he give us a rollout plan for his 4-year mandate? Where exactly will the New City be located? Good idea but we need specifics. Ghana First," his May 30, 2024, post on X read.
“Accra will remain the capital, but we will transfer a portion of it elsewhere. There is already available land on the Accra Plains and opposite the bank of the Volta Lake,” Mahama has said about the location of the new city.
He has also projected that the new city could take 20 years to fully actualize.
What Mahama said about the new city project
In a meeting with the European Union Ambassador and the EU Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, 28 May 2024, Mahama underscored the urgency of this project, citing the detrimental impact of overcrowding in Accra on business growth and government efficiency.
“We will commence a feasibility study with a plan to construct a new city. Accra is gridlocked, and the time has arrived for us to relocate certain parts of the government services from Accra,” Mahama stated.
“Accra will remain the capital, but we will transfer a portion of it elsewhere. There is already available land on the Accra Plains and opposite the bank of the Volta Lake,” he explained.
Mahama highlighted the extensive nature of the project, which is expected to take 20 years to complete.
This timeline reflects a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to ensure the new city meets its intended goals.
“Moreover, we are establishing a port terminal in Mpakadan to transport cargo to the northern part of the country,” Mr. Mahama added, illustrating the broader infrastructural improvements accompanying the new city initiative.
SARA