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Mahama proposes new city to ease Accra congestion
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Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has promised to commence a feasibility study for the construction of a new city outside Accra to alleviate the growing congestion in the capital.
According to him, the initiative aims to create a new growth pole and generate thousands of jobs both during the construction phase and after completion.
The former President Mahama made these announcements during an interaction with the European Union Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
He said while Accra will remain the capital, it is time to decongest the city by relocating some government ministries, departments, agencies, and financial institutions to the new city.
Mahama added that the future city could span three regions—Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta—and be situated near the Volta Lake.
“The new city would be a green, digital metropolis featuring tourist and amusement attractions, industrial parks, and financial services. He envisions it as a 24-hour city that never sleeps,” he added.
Mahama stated that much of the investment for the new city will come from the private sector and through public-private partnerships.
“We will commence a feasibility study with a plan to construct a new city. Accra is grid-locked, and the time has arrived for us to relocate certain parts of the government services from Accra. Accra will remain the capital, but we will transfer a portion of it elsewhere,” he noted.
He concluded by saying “There is already available land on the Accra Plains and the opposite bank of the Volta Lake. Moreover, we are establishing a port terminal in Mpakadan to transport cargo to the northern part of the country.”
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on both local and international investors to tap into opportunities in Ghana’s tourism, hospitality and creative industries.
Speaking in an interview yesterday with World Media USA Today, the Minister said government is committed to creating a conducive investment environment to support growth in the sector.
She highlighted key investment areas including hotels, fashion, music, film production, and tourism infrastructure.
Dzifa Gomashie also encouraged Ghanaians to invest in domestic tourism to help boost the local economy.
According to her, strategic investment in tourism and the creative economy will drive economic transformation, create jobs, and position Ghana as Africa’s gateway for heritage, culture, business and investment.
“Ghana has vast opportunities across tourism, hospitality and the creative industries. We are ready and open for business,” she stated.
The Minister’s remarks come as government intensifies efforts to leverage culture and tourism as drivers of economic growth and job creation.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has released GHS219.8 million to credentialed healthcare providers across the country to support the continued delivery of healthcare services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
According to a statement issued by the Authority on Thursday, the payment was made on July 1, 2026, and covers a backlog of claims from previous years as well as vetted claims for services provided up to May 2026.
The NHIA said the latest disbursement brings the total amount it has paid in claims this year to nearly GHS1.2 billion.
It explained that the payment is aimed at improving the financial stability of healthcare providers and enabling them to continue offering quality healthcare services to NHIS members without interruption.
The Authority said private healthcare facilities received GHS98.24 million, representing 44.69 per cent of the total payment. Public healthcare facilities received GHS80.86 million, representing 36.78 per cent, while mission and faith-based health facilities received GHS40.70 million, representing 18.53 per cent.
The Chief Executive of the NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, said the payment demonstrates the Authority’s commitment to reimbursing healthcare providers on time.
“This payment reinforces our commitment to strengthening the financial sustainability of the health facilities that serve NHIS members every day,” he stated.
He added that the Authority remains focused on ensuring that healthcare providers, from major hospitals to Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, receive timely and accurate payments for the services they provide.
Dr. Bampoe said the NHIA is also implementing measures to improve claims processing, reduce payment delays and strengthen collaboration with healthcare providers in line with the government’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage.
He encouraged all credentialed healthcare providers to submit their claims promptly and accurately while following the Authority’s claims processing guidelines to support faster vetting and reimbursement.
The NHIA reiterated its commitment to strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme through sustainable financing, increased confidence among healthcare providers and improved access to quality healthcare services for all Ghanaians.
By: Jacob Aggrey
