New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kwabena Agyepong, has outlined plans to place structured urban development and rural renewal at the centre of his governance agenda if elected president.
Speaking in Accra on Tuesday, January 20, Mr Agyepong said Ghana’s rapid and largely unplanned urban growth poses serious risks to sustainability, productivity and quality of life, and must be addressed through deliberate policy choices.
He described the current state of urban expansion as disorganised and inefficient, arguing that cities must be properly planned to support economic activity and provide decent living conditions for residents.
According to him, his approach would rely heavily on collaboration with professionals in the built environment, including architects, engineers and urban planners, whom he said possess the technical expertise required to redesign Ghana’s cities.
“These professionals are my colleagues, and they understand what it takes to fix the challenges we see in our cities today,” he noted, stressing that technical competence would guide policy decisions.
Mr Agyepong also underscored the need to refocus national development on rural areas, saying sustained investment in rural infrastructure and services would help improve livelihoods and reduce excessive migration to urban centres.
“My government will work with built environment professionals to turn our chaotic urban sprawl into well-planned, liveable cities, while revitalising rural communities with modern amenities to improve livelihoods,” he said.
He unveiled a six-pillar policy framework he says will guide his administration if elected as the party’s flagbearer on January 31 and subsequently wins the 2028 general election.
Mr Agyepong described the initiative as his “New Dawn Agenda,” aimed at restoring hope, enhancing governance, and driving inclusive development across the country.
The six pillars of his agenda include:
Land Reform, Youth Empowerment, and Modern Agriculture: Agyepong promises to simplify land title registration, reduce bureaucratic delays, and link youth-led environmental programmes with land reclamation. He also envisions a modern, climate-smart agricultural sector where farming is respected as a dignified profession.
Urban Regeneration, Rural Renewal, and Environmental Protection: The candidate pledges to enforce spatial planning, turn disordered urban areas into organised settlements, and equip rural communities with essential amenities to promote modernisation and sustainability.
Fiscal Discipline and Value for Money: Agyepong says his administration will prioritise completing ongoing projects before launching new ones, cut wasteful spending, and institutionalise a culture of maintenance across government agencies.
Restoring Meritocracy and Professionalism in Public Service: He promises appointments and promotions will be merit-based. His proposals include capping the cabinet at 19 ministers with an equal number of deputies, limiting Supreme Court judges to 11, and removing the mandatory retirement age of 70 for judges, allowing service until physically unable.
National Trade Licence Regime: He plans to integrate the informal sector into the formal economy through support and incentives rather than punitive measures.
Empowering Creative Arts and Reigniting Sports: Agyepong says strict copyright enforcement will benefit creative professionals, while sports development will focus on football, athletics, and boxing, among other disciplines, to restore national pride in the arts and sports.
“Over the years, policies have demoralised citizens. My New Dawn Agenda is born from experience and is designed to reverse this trend, create opportunities, and modernise Ghana,” Agyepong said.
