Ghana is to have a new administrative capital as part of measures to permanently decongest the capital city of Accra, The Ghanaian Times quoted President Mahama as saying in its Monday, May 19, 2025 publication.
Consequently, the story continued, the government would begin the development of a new administrative city on the Accra Plains. Selected government offices, the President said, would be relocated to the proposed new administrative hub, which would be connected to Accra by an expressway and a railway line.
“I believe that this new city will be located somewhere on the Accra plains from Bondase, straddling between Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta regions. The city will stretch to the banks of the Volta River and there will be a railway link and express lane, that will link the new city to Accra.
“Accra is overstretched. The capital is facing mounting pressure from rapid urbanisation, traffic congestion, and inadequate infrastructure. It is time we think long-term and plan for a new city that can ease this burden,” the paper again quoted the president as saying.
This is not the first time Ghanaians are hearing this pronouncement. Indeed in May 2024, then candidate John Mahama in a meeting with European Union Ambassador and the EU Chamber of Commerce mooted the idea of Ghana having a new administrative capital. The Chronicle is, therefore, not surprised that he has repeated the idea during his meeting with chiefs in the Greater Accra Region.
The pronouncement, no doubt, is welcome news because Accra is indeed choked and moving the capital to a new location is the only option available. During his recent meeting with government appointees, President Mahama reiterated his resolve to leave a living legacy, since this is his last term of office. Moving the administrative capital from Accra is surely one of the legacies he wants to leave behind and we pray that God helps him to achieve his aim.
The Chronicle, however, disagrees with the Bondase site he is proposing for the new administrative capital of Ghana. But for the military land acquisition in the area, Bondase would have been part of Accra long ago. In our view, therefore, the country will be moving from frying pan to fire if we decide to move the capital from Accra to nearby Bondase enclave.
Already, Tsopoli, which is beyond Bondase, is gradually becoming part of Accra. We will, therefore, be exacerbating the already precarious situation if the administrative capital is moved to the outskirts of Accra. Though we concede that moving the capital close to the banks of the Volta River will ensure effective river transport and also attract visitors into the country, its close proximity to Accra will surely turn Greater Accra Region to a city state.
We understand what might have probably motivated President Mahama to consider Bondase instead of the middle belt of the country. Ghanaians have long held the view that the capital of Ghana should be moved from Accra to Kintampo enclave, in the now Bono East Region. Unfortunately, the instability in that part of the country will no longer support that idea.
Next should have been Ashanti Region and Kumasi to be precise, but we all agree that Kumasi, just like Accra, is already choked. Moving the capital there will, therefore, be a terrible thing to do. This is why our president has probably settled on Bondase, but we believe there are more places in Ghana that can peacefully host the new administrative capital.
Places like Goaso, Bekyem or Sunyani are relatively peaceful and can host our proposed administrative capital, because all these towns are far away from Kumasi, which is already densely populated. Bondase, we dare say, will not help ease the congestion we are all talking about in Accra, though a new capital along the banks of the Volta River will be nice.
