Nationwide Improvement Planning Fee (NDPC) Chairman Dr Nii Moi Thompson has warned that the over-concentration of financial exercise, inhabitants and funding within the Accra metropolitan space is exacerbating flooding and different city challenges within the capital.
He defined that the Accra metropolitan space presently contributes to about 38% of the nation’s gross home product (GDP) and attracts about 86% of international direct funding (FDI), regardless of occupying solely about 1.4% of the nation’s land space.
Dr Thompson described the state of affairs as a “good storm”, with financial alternative, funding and inhabitants progress concentrated in a restricted geographical area, placing huge stress on infrastructure and the surroundings.
Showing earlier than the Parliamentary Committee on Financial Improvement in Accra on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Dr. Thompson mentioned the area has turn out to be essentially the most populous area within the nation, with a inhabitants density of about 1,680 individuals per sq. kilometer in comparison with about 300 individuals per sq. kilometer within the Ashanti Area.
“You can’t have the vast majority of the inhabitants within the smallest land space. Larger Accra is the smallest area by way of land space, however it’s presently essentially the most populous of the 16 areas.
“It is like an ideal storm, each contradiction you may think about packed into this small area, and that is the outcome we’re seeing: flooding, collapsed buildings, every thing else,” he mentioned.
context
The nation is experiencing renewed flooding, notably in Accra and its suburbs, the place floodwaters have submerged houses, disrupted transport, broken companies and evacuated residents.
The floods coincided with a collection of constructing collapses in Accra, together with incidents at Adenta New Web site and Avenor, with rescue operations launched to rescue trapped residents and fatalities recorded.
The state of affairs has reignited considerations about poor drainage techniques, clogged gutters, unregulated building on waterways, and weak enforcement of city planning laws, which specialists proceed to determine as key elements within the nation’s recurring flood disasters.
committee seating
Dr Thompson appeared earlier than the committee in public alongside senior officers from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and its companies, together with Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Nyarko Ampem and Authorities Statistician Dr Alhassan Idris. Samuel Danquah Arkhurst, Director of the Treasury; Mr. Kwasi Adu, Director of Coverage Coordination, Monitoring and Analysis, Ministry of Finance; Emelia Boatema Osei Delky Deputy Administrator and Head of Accounts;
outcome
The NDPC Chairman mentioned the catastrophe highlighted the impression of the over-concentration of individuals, funding and financial exercise within the Accra metropolitan space.
He mentioned the impression of the imbalance was evident within the capital’s repeated flooding, collapsed buildings, visitors congestion and elevated pressure on public providers.
Dr Thompson argued that the nation’s growth challenges are rooted in structural distortions that proceed to be exacerbated by the shortage of a long-term nationwide growth technique that may foster extra balanced regional progress.
He burdened that the NDPC is prioritizing measures to handle regional inequalities by way of an built-in nationwide growth plan geared toward selling funding and financial alternatives exterior the Accra metropolitan space.
Dr Thompson added that lowering the overconcentration of individuals and financial exercise in capital cities is necessary to fight flooding and guarantee sustainable nationwide growth.
Regional disparity
He mentioned current multidimensional poverty information reveals deep regional inequalities, noting that seven of the poorest areas within the nation are situated inside the savannah belt, regardless of accounting for about 54 % of Ghana’s landmass.
The event economist defined that this disparity highlights long-standing structural imbalances within the allocation of financial alternatives and growth assets throughout the nation.
Dr Thompson mentioned the rising focus of inhabitants, funding and financial exercise within the Accra metropolitan space was a results of the shortage of a coherent long-term nationwide growth technique.
He burdened that the NDPC prioritizes an built-in nationwide growth plan to advertise balanced regional progress, cut back inequality and entice extra funding to underserved areas of the nation.
report
Discussions on the assembly centered on the NDPC’s 2024 Nationwide Annual Progress Report.
This report is the twenty third version of the annual progress report and the third evaluation of coverage implementation below the Jobs Agenda II: Creating Prosperity and Equal Alternatives for All (2022-2025).
The report was compiled by way of an evaluation of key indicators and targets used to watch the efficiency of coverage and program interventions carried out below the Nationwide Improvement Framework throughout the 2024 fiscal yr.
