The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has announced a new program partnering corporate organizations with the State to maintain major streets in Ghana's major cities. Minister Mahama Ayariga disclosed this at the Government Accountability Series Press Conference held at the Presidency. The program, directed by President John Dramani Mahama, assigns streets in major capital cities to private businesses, including banks, manufacturing companies, and logistics firms.
Under the program, private businesses will assume responsibility for reconstructing, redeveloping, and maintaining assigned streets. These streets can be renamed after the companies or share names with existing personalities, with advertising rights along those streets. The Minister cited the Obasanjo Highway as an example, which will be redeveloped by Access Bank. The bank will ensure the street is well-maintained, lit, and has adequate greenery and safe walkways.
Minister Ayariga will meet with the Governor of the Central Bank and heads of financial institutions on October 6 to discuss the initiative. The Governor has expressed readiness to mobilize banks to adopt and fix streets. The initiative will be rolled out in the coming days and weeks, with the first report expected from the Chief Executive of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority.
President John Dramani Mahama has also directed Minister Ayariga to produce a strategy for building adequate inner-city infrastructure, including roads and drains in every neighborhood. The President is leading discussions with Minister Ayariga, Minister Kwami Governs Agbodza, and Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson to develop an inner-city Big Push Initiative.
The inner-city initiative will be largely funded by a reconfigured property-red regime and betterment charges with government support. The objective is to ensure every neighborhood has paved routes, streets, walkways, adequate drainage, street lighting, and greenery. The government seeks cooperation from property owners, promising that their property values will increase after the initiative's completion.
Minister Ayariga noted that many homeowners want their neighborhoods developed by companies like Regimamuel Gray and Trassaco Estates. He emphasized that the government's leadership is necessary to facilitate this, which the scheme aims to enable. The Minister assured that the full details of the initiative will be announced by the President in due course.
The government's initiative aims to enhance the nation's infrastructure and property values. With the involvement of corporate organizations, the government expects significant improvements in the maintenance of major streets and inner-city infrastructure. The program's success will depend on the cooperation of property owners and the effective implementation of the initiative.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government partners with corporate organizations to maintain major streets in major cities.
- The initiative aims to improve inner-city infrastructure, including roads, drains, and greenery.
- The program's success depends on cooperation from property owners and effective implementation.
