Kennedy Ohene Agyapong
NEW Patriotic Party Presidential Candidate hopeful, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform Ghana’s development structure through genuine decentralisation, proposing the relocation of key government ministries and agencies from Accra to regional capitals.
Speaking during his campaign tour in the Salaga North Constituency, Mr Agyapong argued that Ghana cannot achieve balanced national development if political power, economic activity, and job opportunities remain concentrated in the capital. He said his vision is to ensure that “national progress reflects regional growth, not just the expansion of Accra.”
For decades, he noted, successive governments have paid lip service to decentralisation without taking bold steps to implement it. This, he said, has led to unequal development, rural-urban migration, congestion in Accra, and the decline of once-vibrant towns.
Mr Agyapong’s plan seeks to restructure Ghana’s economic and administrative systems by empowering regions to manage key sectors of the national economy. “Decentralisation should not be a political slogan,” he said, “but a deliberate shift of government authority, employment opportunities, and investment infrastructure to all regions.”
Relocation
Under his proposal, ministries would be relocated based on the natural and economic strengths of the regions. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, for instance, would move to the northern part of the country to take advantage of its fertile lands and irrigation potential, transforming the north into a major food production and processing zone.
Similarly, the Ministry of Energy would be headquartered in the Western Region, home to Ghana’s oil and gas resources. This, Mr Agyapong said, would ensure closer supervision of the extractive sector, enhance local participation, and promote the growth of energy-related industries such as petrochemical and gas processing plants.
The Volta Region, under his plan, would host the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to boost domestic and international tourism. With its natural attractions, cultural heritage, and proximity to Togo, the region could become a leading tourism and creative arts hub, generating jobs in hospitality, transport, film, and heritage tourism.
Decentralisation
Mr Agyapong added that decentralisation would stimulate inter-regional trade and infrastructure development. By distributing ministries and industries across the country, he said, new transport corridors—roads, railways, and distribution networks—would emerge to link regional economies directly, rather than funnelling all activity through Accra.
He also argued that relocating ministries would help ease pressure on the capital, which faces overcrowding, housing shortages, traffic congestion, floods, and high unemployment. “It makes no sense for young people from every region to migrate to Accra just because that’s where the jobs are,” he stated.
According to Mr Agyapong, the plan would revive regional capitals such as Tamale, Koforidua, Sunyani, Ho, Wa, Takoradi, Cape Coast, and Bolgatanga by attracting businesses, construction projects, and service sector growth.
Digital Governance
To ensure efficiency, he said, his administration would introduce digital governance systems to connect ministries across regions through video conferencing, integrated data platforms, and smart management tools, reducing the need for frequent travel to Accra.
Mr Agyapong stressed that his policy responds to long-standing demands for regional equity, arguing that all regions contribute to Ghana’s progress and should therefore share in its benefits. “True unity is built when citizens feel government works for them no matter where they live,” he said.
Kennedy Agyapong’s decentralisation strategy represents a major shift in Ghana’s governance and economic planning. If implemented, it could mark a move away from Accra-centred development toward a model that promotes balanced growth, regional empowerment, and nationwide opportunity.
