10-Year Urban Blueprint To Be Unveiled

President John Dramani Mahama is set to unveil two major policy frameworks aimed at reshaping Ghana’s urban landscape as the country intensifies efforts to address rapid urban growth, housing challenges and the expansion of informal settlements. The President will officially launch the National Urban Policy (2026–2035) and the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy (2026–2035) during the Ninth Session of the Ghana Urban Forum from Tuesday July 28 to Wednesday July 29, 2026, in Accra.

The two-day forum, to be held at the Alisa Hotel in North Ridge, is expected to bring together key actors in Ghana’s urban development sector, including policymakers, metropolitan, municipal and district authorities, urban planners, development partners, researchers and civil society organisations. President Mahama, who will attend as the Special Guest of Honour, is expected to use the occasion to outline the government’s vision for building more organised, resilient and inclusive cities capable of responding to the pressures of rapid urbanisation.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, will lead discussions on the country’s urban development priorities, with emphasis on improving city planning, strengthening local governance systems and ensuring that urban growth benefits all segments of society. The launch of the two strategic documents marks a significant step towards addressing some of Ghana’s most pressing urban challenges, including overcrowding, inadequate housing, poor sanitation, limited access to basic services and the growth of informal settlements in major cities.

The National Urban Policy (2026–2035) is expected to provide a long-term roadmap for managing urban expansion, promoting sustainable infrastructure development and improving coordination among institutions responsible for city planning and management. Meanwhile, the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy (2026–2035) also expected to focus on improving living conditions in deprived communities while introducing measures to prevent the emergence of new slums through better housing policies, improved service delivery and stronger urban planning systems.

The forum, under the theme “Resetting Ghana’s Urban Future: Thinking Nationally and Taking Local Actions for Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Cities,” will explore practical solutions to ensure Ghana’s cities remain productive, environmentally sustainable and prepared to withstand future challenges. Urbanisation has become one of Ghana’s fastest-growing development concerns, with increasing migration to cities placing pressure on housing, transportation, sanitation and public infrastructure. The government’s new policy direction is therefore expected to provide a framework for managing this growth while promoting safer and more liveable urban communities.

The event is being supported by development partners, including the World Bank, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the European Union, as part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to plan and manage urban development.

Stakeholders are expected to use the forum to identify innovative approaches that will move Ghana beyond reactive responses to urban challenges and towards a more coordinated strategy where national policies translate into practical improvements at the local level.

Author: Joyce Owusu