Gov’t showcases a litany of projects in Greater Accra

The government has begun an accountability exercise to showcase its massive infrastructural developments in various regions of the country while engaging citizens to gather feedback on governance.
One of the key features of the event was the exhibition center, where all 29 districts within the Greater Accra Region showcased their respective projects and initiatives.
This provided a platform for local governments to highlight their contributions to regional development and allowed citizens to gain a deeper understanding of the progress being made at the grassroots level.
The exhibition also facilitated direct interactions between government officials and the public, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility.

Roads
Roads include asphalt overlays in La Nkwantanan Madina, Awayawo, Adentan, Ablekuma, Akweteyman road asphalted, Otanor-School junction road, Roman Ridge asphalt overlay, Sowutuom asphalt overlay, 3-tier Nungua Barrier interchange, Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange, Tema Beach Road interchange, Spintex Road Interchange, Tema Motorway roundabout interchange, among others.
Periodic road maintenance includes 1,266 km asphalt overlays, 360 km of resealing works, 331 km of rehabilitation/upgrading works, 70 km of partial construction works, two interchanges, and three bridges. Key roads and bridges include Pokuase Interchange, Borteyman Sports Complex, LekMA roads, and Beach Road.

Sports infrastructure
Sports infrastructure includes Borteyman Games village, University of Ghana Sports Stadium, and astro turfs in places such as Madina, Mamomo, Tuba, Alajo, and Mallam M/A & 2 JHS, among others.

Education infrastructure
Education infrastructure also includes Modern Kindergarten at Kwabenya, New Century Technical Institute-Dansoman, Weija Senior High School, kayayei Hostel in Madina and Ashaiman, Machinery Institute in East Legon, Accra STEM Academy, etc.

Judiciary
In respect of the judiciary, projects include a District court in Sowutuom, Circuit Court in Achimota, Magistrate Court at Achimota, Tema Community One Court, Ga North District Court, and AG Office Complex- The Law House, among others.

Other projects
Other projects include the New Lands Commission Office, Foundry Machine Tooling Centre at GAEC, Jamestown Fishing Harbour, 504 Housing Units for Police at Kwabenya, Dansoman Sea Defence Project, Ningo Prampram Coastal Protection Project, 101-bed Urology Department at Korle Bu, Phase two of University of Ghana Medical Centre, 6-storey office complex for Greater Accra Coordinating Council, and Office of the Head of Local Government Service, among others.

30,000 street lights
Over 30,000 street lights were distributed to MMDAs between 2022 and 2023, with another 25,000 to be distributed this year.

88 1D1F projects
A total of 88 One District One Factory (1D1F) projects are at various stages of implementation in the Region.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Council to highlight the government’s infrastructural projects and social interventions in the region.

First edition in Greater Accra Region
Dubbed the Regional Townhall Meetings and Exhibition, the first edition took place in the Greater Accra Region. It was themed “Regional Revitalization: Government’s Commitment to Growth, Development, and Prosperity” and saw key government officials presenting updates on various projects while engaging directly with the public. All 29 District, Municipal, and Metropolitan Assemblies (MMDAs) had the opportunity to exhibit key infrastructural projects implemented from 2017 to date. Journalists and the public were given the chance to ask questions and seek clarifications from duty-bearers.

Remarks by the Minister for Information
Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, who opened the forum, said the town hall meetings are part of the government’s strategy to account to Ghanaians for what it has achieved in the past seven and a half years.
“Our goal is to create a government that listens, responds, and acts in the best interest of its people. These town hall meetings are a step towards achieving that vision. We are building a future where every Ghanaian feels included and empowered to contribute to our nation’s growth,” she said.
She added that in the coming weeks, the Ministry would visit the remaining 15 regions to further engage citizens and collect feedback on government projects and policies to aid in project delivery.

Updates on developmental projects
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Titus Glover, provided a comprehensive update on the developmental projects undertaken by the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration, stating that the government has achieved a lot within the region and is committed to completing stalled projects.
“We are committed to improving the lives of our citizens through strategic infrastructural development. From roads and bridges to schools and hospitals, we are building a future where every Ghanaian can thrive,” said Mr. Glover.

Economic interventions highlighted
Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, said the Ghanaian economy has grown by $20 billion under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Administration as of December 2023.
He explained that in 2013, under Mahama’s administration, the size of the economy was pegged at $64 billion, however it reduced to $56 billion in 2016.
He stated that as of 2023 the size of the Ghanaian economy had increased to $76 billion “so in nominal terms the economy has grown by $20 billion under Akufo-Addo’s Government”.
Dr Adam cited the Domestic Debt Exchange programme (DDP), which saw 95 per cent participation by local bond-holders while the Government also negotiated with its external bilateral creditors and achieved $2.8 billion debt service relief.
Therefore, Ghana has been given a grace period of up to 2026 to pay her debt with cheaper interest rate.
The Minister said, for instance, that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Administration recorded $3.4 billion trade surplus in 2023, as against $1.8 billion trade deficit recorded under the Mahama-led Government in 2016.
On inflation, Dr Amin Adam said government’s resilient policies and programmes had witnessed drastic reduction in inflation from 54 per cent in 2022 to 22 per cent as of June this year.
“By the end of this year, the inflation will come down to 15 per cent and hopefully, if we are given the mandate in the December 7 Election, we will bring it down to a single digit by 2025,”Dr Amin Adam assured.
He attributed the surge in the inflation to the global economic meltdown due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Covid-19 pandemic and not because of economic mismanagement.
The Minister added that the country’s export had increased as a result of the ‘One District, One Factory’ initiative with 169 factories currently operational.

Inclusive dialogue and community engagement
The meeting brought together a diverse audience, including government officials, youth groups, union representatives, and community leaders.
This inclusive approach ensured that critical issues were discussed from multiple perspectives, fostering a collaborative environment for problem-solving and idea-sharing.
Discussions covered key sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, and economic empowerment, with government appointees providing answers to pressing questions from journalists and the public.

Feedback from participants
One of the participants, a youth leader from the region, expressed his appreciation for the initiative.
“It’s refreshing to see the government engaging with us directly. This platform allows us to voice our concerns and contribute to the development of our communities. I hope this continues beyond the meetings,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by many attendees who appreciated the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with their leaders.

Expansion to other regions
Over the next few weeks, the Ministry of Information will extend these town hall meetings to the remaining 15 regions.
This grassroots approach aims to bridge the gap between the government and the people, ensuring that every citizen has a voice in the nation’s development.
By decentralizing communication and fostering open dialogue, the administration hopes to build a more inclusive and prosperous Ghana.

National forum and implementation
The initiative will culminate in a national forum, where feedback and recommendations from all regions will be consolidated and presented to the government for implementation.
This process ensures that citizen input is not only heard but also acted upon, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to participatory governance.
Minister Fatimatu Abubakar, in her closing remarks, expressed her belief that by fostering open dialogue and collaboration, the government will be able to strengthen the bond between citizens and the government, ultimately driving progress and development in every part of Ghana.