Annoh-Dompreh Sounds Alarm: Ghana’s Cities “On the Brink” Without Urgent Green Reforms

Ghana’s urban future hangs in the balance, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh has warned, as the country’s major cities face mounting threats from pollution, congestion, and unplanned growth.

Addressing Parliament during a debate on “Transforming Urban Ghana: Evidence-Based Solutions for Sustainable, Clean, and Resilient Cities,” the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP cautioned that without decisive reforms, cities like Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale could soon become unliveable.

“Our cities, once symbols of vitality and promise, are straining under the weight of their own success,” he said. “We are at a crossroads where development must be measured not by skyscrapers or highways, but by how well we balance humanity with nature.”

According to data from the Ghana Statistical Service, more than 56% of Ghanaians currently live in urban areas, a figure projected to exceed 60% by 2030. While cities generate over 70% of Ghana’s GDP, they also produce 12,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, much of which remains untreated.

Annoh-Dompreh warned that if current trends persist, Accra alone could house more than 7 million residents by 2040, facing crippling traffic, worsening floods, and dangerously poor air quality.

To avert this, he called for a radical rethinking of urban development, rooted in sustainability and environmental responsibility. Drawing inspiration from cities like Kigali, Singapore, and Copenhagen, he said Ghana must learn from international examples that successfully integrate nature, innovation, and citizen well-being into city planning.

“Greening our cities must become a cornerstone of national urban policy,” he urged. “Let’s increase tree cover, reserve land for open spaces, and turn flood-prone zones into ecological assets.”

The MP proposed cleaner transport solutions such as electric buses, modernized tro-tro systems, and pedestrian-friendly corridors to combat rising air pollution and align Ghana with its Paris Agreement commitments.

He also championed a circular waste economy, arguing that recycling and green jobs could both reduce landfill waste by half and stimulate sustainable economic growth by 2030.

“If we build without foresight, we will inherit congestion, pollution, and decay,” he warned. “But if we build with purpose, guided by ecological wisdom, justice, and innovation, we will create cities that breathe, move, and heal.”

Ending his address on a reflective note, Annoh-Dompreh reminded lawmakers that cities are not merely spaces of residence but reflections of national values.

“The greatness of a nation is not found in monuments of steel,” he concluded, “but in the livability of its cities and the sustainability of its soul.”