The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Honourable Mahama Ayariga, has outlined plans to transform urban neighbourhoods through improved roads, drainage systems, walkways, street lighting and increased greenery.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Honourable Ayariga explained that the initiative forms part of government’s broader plan to address infrastructure gaps in inner cities and improve the quality of urban living.
Honourable Ayariga disclosed that President John Mahama has directed the development of an Inner City Big Push Initiative involving the Local Government Ministry, the Roads Ministry and the Ministry of Finance. The programme will focus on providing adequate infrastructure across neighbourhoods while mobilising resources through a reconfigured property rate regime and betterment charges.
The Minister of Local Government noted that the programme will seek to ensure that urban communities receive paved roads and streets alongside safe walkways, adequate drainage and street lighting. He added that greenery will also be incorporated into the redevelopment plans to create cleaner and more attractive urban environments.
“The objective is to ensure every neighbourhood in our cities have paved roads, paved streets, paved walkways, adequate drainage, street lighting, and enough greenery.”
Honourable Mahama Ayariga
Honourable Ayariga further explained that the government expects property owners to benefit from the infrastructure improvements through increased property values. He referenced communities such as East Legon, East Legon Hills and Trasacco as examples of the type of urban development many homeowners aspire to see in their neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile, the government is exploring a partnership model that will bring private businesses into the redevelopment and maintenance of major city streets. The Minister revealed that banks, manufacturing companies, construction firms, logistics companies and insurance companies are among the private sector institutions being considered for the initiative.
Under the proposed arrangement, companies that adopt particular streets will support their reconstruction, maintenance, lighting and landscaping while retaining the historic names of roads associated with national personalities. Honourable Ayariga explained that advertising rights along the streets would also form part of the incentives offered to participating companies.
The Minister disclosed that he has scheduled to engage the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to establish a platform for discussions with heads of financial institutions. He indicated that the initiative was expected to be launched after the final participation framework received presidential approval.
Government Reworks Property Rates To Strengthen Local Assemblies
The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Honourable Mahama Ayariga, further disclosed plans to recalibrate the property rates regime to improve the financial capacity of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies. He explained that stronger local revenue systems are necessary for assemblies to provide essential services and respond effectively to infrastructure and sanitation needs.
Honourable Ayariga noted that President John Mahama has tasked the Ministry with developing strategies to improve inner-city infrastructure across the country. The proposed framework will require collaboration between central government and local authorities to address persistent deficiencies in urban services.
The Minister of Local Government stressed that assemblies require reliable financial resources to perform their responsibilities as service providers. He therefore indicated that discussions with the President and the Minister of Finance are ongoing to determine how property rates can be restructured to provide assemblies with greater and more sustainable revenue.
He also linked the financing reforms to the government’s sanitation response, which has brought together ministries, departments and agencies, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, security services and private operators. The coordinated approach enabled the mobilisation of personnel, equipment and logistics to address immediate sanitation challenges.
Honourable Ayariga explained that the institutionalisation of monthly Sanitation Day has provided a continuing framework for maintaining the momentum of the clean-up exercises. He urged citizens and relevant stakeholders to participate actively in the initiative as part of their civic responsibility.
Turning to the proposed urban redevelopment programme, the Minister disclosed that technical reports were being prepared on how private companies could participate in the reconstruction and maintenance of streets. The reports from the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority and the Urban Roads Directorate were expected to guide the government’s next steps.
According to Honourable Ayariga, the government intends to finalise the participation arrangements and proceed with implementation in the coming weeks. He indicated that the initiative would depend on stronger coordination between national institutions, local assemblies and private sector partners.
The Minister further expressed confidence that Ghana’s cities can achieve significant improvements in their appearance and functionality through better organisation and collective commitment. He cited international cities such as Singapore, London and Brussels as examples of urban environments Ghana could aspire to emulate through sustained planning and investment.
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