In light of Ghana's population growth, flagbearer candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, said he thinks Accra should no longer be the country's capital.
He claims that he suggested this to former President John Agyekum Kufuor back in 2006, particularly when the nation was in the running to host the CAN 2008 and AU summit.
"If I had my way, we could have moved the Jubilee House there, and we could have built the new Tamale Stadium there," the author said of a location between Kintampo and Salaga that may be a desirable location for the capital of Ghana.
He continued by saying that the AU buildings at Cantonment could have been relocated there if it had been a new capital because that is how you start a new human settlement: with all the roads, avenues, and other infrastructure properly planned out.
Engineer Agyepong emphasized the need for Ghana to change its human settlement, saying, "If you take Accra right now, it has to be rejuvenated even the urban population. Our standard of living is very low—not in terms of money, but just in the way we live; the neatness of our surroundings, making sure the street are properly laid when we are designing an area, if this is a church avenue, we should have playground, this place is for the church."
"We must follow a plan, which is not done in Ghana. Now that there is mixed development, we can make sure that the necessary regulations and plans are followed when someone comes to demolish a structure and erect a church.
Nigeria, he said, is an excellent example, with Lagos as its commercial capital and Abuja as its political capital.
When asked by Ghanamps.com if moving Ghana's capital should become a hot political topic, he responded that he would not promote it in order to gain votes but rather that things should be done so that everyone in Ghana feels like they are a part of the nation, Ghana. Why, for instance, should a facility for processing cocoa be located in Tema rather than places like Hohoe or Sehwi?
He questioned the authority's effects on the nation since it was established some three years ago.