Make Accra Beautiful Again (MABA): A Strategic Framework for Accra’s Urban Renaissance

The call to “Make Accra Beautiful Again” (MABA) resonates with a growing desire among residents, planners, and policymakers to address the pressing challenges of urbanization in Ghana’s capital. This initiative is not merely an aesthetic campaign but a holistic proposal for systemic reform in metropolitan governance, infrastructure, housing, sanitation, and economic activation. This article provides a detailed, SEO-optimized exploration of the MABA concept, breaking down its key components, contextual background, analytical depth, and practical pathways for implementation. Our goal is to offer a pedagogical resource that clarifies the complexities of urban renewal in Accra, moving beyond slogans to actionable, evidence-based strategies.

Introduction: The Imperative for Urban Renewal in Accra

Accra, the vibrant economic and administrative heart of Ghana, faces a paradox. It is a city of tremendous dynamism and opportunity, yet it grapples with infrastructural deficits, unplanned development, sanitation crises, and fragmented governance. Traffic congestion, inadequate drainage, informal settlements, and public health issues related to waste management detract from the city’s livability and economic potential. The “Make Accra Beautiful Again” (MABA) movement articulates a collective aspiration to reverse these trends. It posits that with decisive, coordinated, and innovative action, Accra can reclaim its status as a model of orderly, green, and prosperous African urbanism. This introduction frames MABA as a necessary response to the symptoms of rapid, unplanned urban growth and sets the stage for examining the specific policy pillars proposed to achieve this vision.

Key Points: The Five Pillars of the MABA Proposal

The core of the MABA initiative, as popularly circulated, rests on five interconnected strategic proposals. These are designed to address governance, physical infrastructure, housing, environmental health, and the local economy simultaneously.

1. Metropolitan Governance Consolidation and Fiscal Empowerment

The first pillar advocates for a fundamental restructuring of local government in the capital. It proposes the consolidation of all existing district assemblies within the Accra metropolitan area into a single, powerful Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). This new entity would be led by a directly elected, executive mayor with a clear mandate and sufficient autonomy. Crucially, this mayor and the unified AMA would require guaranteed access to a minimum of 10% of the national District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), a significantly expanded local property rate base, the authority to issue municipal bonds for large-scale projects, and the power to levy innovative local taxes (e.g., on commercial activities, entertainment). This aims to end fiscal fragmentation and create a financially robust, accountable single point of authority for the city.

2. Centralized Investment in Road and Pavement Networks

Pillar two calls for a massive, coordinated investment in the city’s foundational mobility infrastructure. It suggests a joint funding mechanism where the central government (using national assets and resources) and the newly empowered AMA (using its enhanced revenues) co-invest in the complete development and rehabilitation of all metropolitan roads and associated pedestrian pavements. This goes beyond patching potholes to creating a coherent, safe, and accessible network for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, which is essential for economic activity and quality of life.

3. Affordable Housing and Suburban Regeneration via Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

Addressing the severe affordable housing deficit in Accra, the third pillar focuses on leveraging private capital and expertise through structured Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). The target is the development of new, cost-effective housing units and the comprehensive regeneration of neglected, less-developed suburbs. This involves not just building houses but also upgrading associated social amenities, utilities, and public spaces to create integrated, sustainable neighborhoods and curb urban sprawl.

4. Strict Enforcement of Sanitation By-Laws

Recognizing that physical beauty is undermined by environmental degradation, the fourth pillar demands the rigorous enforcement of the AMA’s existing sanitation by-laws. This translates to imposing substantial fines for littering, illegal dumping, and poor waste management by households and businesses. For persistent and egregious offenders, it includes the threat of custodial sentences. The goal is to create a powerful deterrent and instill a culture of collective responsibility for a clean city.

5. Activation of the 24-Hour Economy through Strategic PPPs

The final pillar seeks to transform Accra’s economic rhythm. It proposes that the AMA, in partnership with the private sector, develops business and commercial zones designed to operate safely and efficiently on a 24-hour basis. This “nighttime economy” strategy focuses on zones for services, entertainment, and retail that cater to shift workers, tourists, and residents after dark. The objective is to create sustainable jobs, extend commercial activity, enhance security through increased nocturnal presence, and generate additional municipal revenue from a diversified economic base.

Background: Understanding Accra’s Urban Challenges

To appreciate the MABA proposals, one must understand the historical and systemic roots of Accra’s current condition. Accra’s urban growth has been largely organic and, at times, uncoordinated, leading to a patchwork of formal and informal settlements. Key background factors include:

Historical Governance Fragmentation

Accra is currently administered by multiple district assemblies (e.g., Accra Metropolitan, Korle Klottey, Okaikoi North, etc.), a structure inherited from decentralization policies. While intended to bring government closer to the people, in a dense metropolis like Accra, this has often led to duplication of efforts, inconsistent bylaws, jurisdictional conflicts over roads and drainage, and an inability to plan and execute city-wide projects seamlessly. The vision of a unified AMA aims to correct this.

Infrastructure and Housing Deficits

Ghana’s housing deficit is estimated to be in the millions, with Accra bearing a disproportionate burden. Much of the city’s housing stock is old, poorly maintained, or informal. Concurrently, the road network, while extensive, suffers from poor maintenance, inadequate drainage, and a lack of integrated planning for non-motorized transport, contributing to severe traffic congestion and annual flooding.

The Sanitation and Waste Management Crisis

Accra generates thousands of tonnes of solid waste daily. The capacity of both the AMA and private waste management companies is often overwhelmed, leading to illegal dumping, choked drains, and polluted beaches. While by-laws exist, enforcement has been inconsistent, hampered by limited resources, political interference, and public non-compliance.

Economic Potential and the 24-Hour Economy

Accra is the hub of Ghana’s service-based economy. The government’s national 24-hour economy policy recognizes that extending productive hours can boost GDP, create jobs, and optimize infrastructure use. However, this requires deliberate planning for security, lighting, waste management, and transportation during off-peak hours, which is currently underdeveloped.

Analysis: Evaluating the Feasibility and Impact of MABA Proposals

A critical analysis reveals both the potential transformative power and the significant hurdles within each MABA pillar.

Governance and Fiscal Reform: Power and Politics

Merging assemblies is a highly political undertaking requiring an act of Parliament and the buy-in of numerous elected assembly members who would lose their positions. The fiscal empowerment aspect—guaranteeing 10% of DACF and enabling municipal bonds—is legally complex. While the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 963) allows for borrowing, it requires Ministerial approval and adherence to strict fiscal responsibility rules. Granting a “huge asset tax base” would require comprehensive property revaluation and rate reform, a historically contentious process. The success of this pillar hinges on political will at the national level to devolve genuine power and resources.

Infrastructure Investment: Scale and Sustainability

The road and pavement investment is conceptually sound. However, the scale of funding required is enormous. Relying on annual DACF allocations is insufficient. Municipal bonds could be a solution, but they require a strong credit rating, transparent financial management from the AMA, and a clear revenue stream (like property rates) for repayment. The proposal must also integrate climate-resilient design (e.g., permeable pavements, proper drainage) to mitigate flooding, a perennial issue in Accra.

Housing PPPs: Finance, Land, and Affordability

PPPs for housing are a global best practice but face local barriers. The high cost of land in prime Accra locations, complex land tenure systems (involving stools, families, and the state), and the need for substantial upfront financing are major constraints. For PPPs to yield truly affordable housing, the government may need to provide subsidies, tax incentives, or land at concessional rates. Additionally, regeneration in “less developed suburbs” must include job creation and service access to avoid creating dormitory ghettos.

Sanitation Enforcement: Deterrence vs. Systemic Solutions

Strict enforcement with fines and jail time can change behavior, but it risks being perceived as punitive and anti-poor if not paired with enabling infrastructure. A successful strategy requires a dual approach: 1) Robust, affordable, and regular waste collection services accessible to all income groups, and 2) Clear, fairly enforced regulations. The expansion of the “Polluter Pays Principle” must be accompanied by visible improvements in public waste collection to maintain public trust. Legal backing exists in AMA Bye-Laws, but capacity for monitoring and prosecution must be built.

24-Hour Economy: Safety, Services, and Social License

This is an economically promising pillar with precedent in global cities. Its success depends on a package of interventions: enhanced street lighting, dedicated police patrols, extended public transport (e.g., modified Trotro schedules or night buses), and revised licensing for 24-hour businesses. The PPP model would involve the AMA providing the regulatory framework and security, while private operators invest in venues, security within premises, and marketing. Social concerns about noise and security in residential areas would require zoning regulations and community engagement to secure a “social license to operate.”

Practical Advice: Pathways to Implementation

Translating the MABA vision into reality requires a phased, multi-stakeholder approach.

For Policymakers and the Central Government:

• Commission a Feasibility Study: Immediately initiate a technical and legal study on the consolidation of assemblies and the fiscal autonomy model, led by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
• Legislative Action: Draft and sponsor a bill to amend Act 963 or create a specific Accra Metropolitan Authority Act with enhanced powers and revenue mandates.
• Seed Funding: Allocate a one-time capital grant from the national budget to kick-start the AMA’s infrastructure bond program and major road projects.

For the Current and Future AMA Leadership:

• Build a Business Case: Commission a comprehensive property valuation and audit of all city assets to demonstrate the “huge asset tax base” and build investor confidence for bonds.
• Pilot Integrated Projects: Before full consolidation, launch pilot “joint assembly” initiatives on specific corridors (e.g., a major road from Mallam to Kwame Nkrumah Circle) to demonstrate the efficiency of unified planning and execution.
• Sanitation Transparency Portal: Launch a public online dashboard showing waste collection schedules, fines issued, and revenue generated from sanitation levies to build accountability.

For the Private Sector and Investors:

• Form Consortiums: Developers, financiers, and construction firms should form consortia ready to bid on large-scale PPP housing and regeneration projects once the AMA’s capacity is strengthened.
• Engage in Policy Dialogue: Participate in forums organized by the AMA and Ministry of Trade to design practical, bankable frameworks for the 24-hour economy zones.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Major businesses in Accra can sponsor the development and maintenance of specific public spaces, pavements, or sanitation infrastructure within their operational zones as a branding and community investment.

For Civil Society and Citizens:

• Advocate and Monitor: Form citizen watchdog coalitions to advocate for the MABA legislative reforms and monitor the AMA’s performance on project delivery, sanitation enforcement, and financial transparency.
• Participate in Planning: Engage actively in public hearings for town planning schemes and 24-hour economy zone designations to ensure community needs are integrated.
• Adopt a “Block” Mentality: Organize neighborhood associations to take collective responsibility for local sanitation, security, and the maintenance of immediate public spaces, complementing the AMA’s efforts.

FAQ: Addressing Common Questions on MABA

Q1: Is merging all assemblies into one AMA legally possible?

A: Yes, it is