New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has announced plans to relocate several key government ministries from Accra to other regions as part of a bold decentralisation and development agenda.
Speaking to supporters during his campaign tour of Salaga North, Mr. Agyapong said Ghana could not achieve equitable national progress if all major government functions, economic activities, and job opportunities remained concentrated in the capital.
“For decades, successive governments have spoken about decentralisation without taking bold steps to make it happen,” he said. “The result has been unequal development, congestion in Accra, and the slow death of towns that once had economic promise.”
Mr. Agyapong explained that his decentralisation policy would shift the country’s administrative and economic framework by empowering regions to manage major sectors of the national economy. He stressed that decentralisation must move beyond political rhetoric to become a deliberate national strategy that brings jobs, infrastructure, and governance closer to the people.
Outlining his vision, the Assin Central MP said ministries would be relocated based on the natural strengths and economic potential of each region.
He proposed, for example, that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture be moved to the northern part of Ghana to capitalise on its vast arable lands and livestock potential.
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“With the ministry and its agencies located there, the north would attract investment in agricultural processing, storage, and mechanisation — creating jobs and reducing poverty,” he noted.
Similarly, he suggested relocating the Ministry of Energy to the Western Region, home to Ghana’s oil and gas deposits. According to him, this would improve oversight of the extractive sector, enhance local participation, and spur the growth of related industries such as petrochemical and gas processing plants.
Mr. Agyapong also proposed moving the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to the Volta Region to harness its natural and cultural attractions.
“With its mountains, waterfalls, beaches, and rich traditions, the Volta Region has all it takes to become Ghana’s tourism and creative arts hub,” he said.
He emphasised that the decentralisation initiative would reduce the economic and infrastructural strain on Accra while driving development across all regions.
“It makes no sense for young people from every region to move to Accra simply because that’s where the jobs are,” he argued. “When we move ministries, private sector jobs will follow, and neglected towns will come alive again.”
The NPP flagbearer hopeful added that relocating ministries would encourage the creation of new transport networks — roads, rail lines, and trade corridors — linking regions based on their economic strengths. This, he said, would expand commerce and create new opportunities for farmers, manufacturers, and artisans.
To ensure effective coordination, Mr. Agyapong said the decentralisation plan would be supported by a digital governance system, allowing ministries to operate seamlessly across regions.
“With digital management, video conferencing, and data integration, government business can run efficiently no matter where a ministry is located,” he explained.
He concluded that his proposal aims to promote fairness in the distribution of national resources, foster unity, and ensure that every region benefits directly from Ghana’s growth.
“True unity is built when every citizen feels government works for them — no matter where they live,” he said.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem