President John Dramani Mahama today, Wednesday, October 22, firmly reiterated his commitment to addressing the severe geographic imbalance in Ghana’s national development, specifically targeting the disparity between the northern and southern regions. Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Infrastructure Plan (GIP), organized by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), the President detailed plans to introduce targeted incentives aimed at drawing foreign investors to establish businesses in the northern regions.
The President explained that this decisive action is necessary to stimulate economic growth in the North and substantially narrow the development gap. He pointed out that while Accra remains the most urbanized center, northern areas lag significantly, a situation he linked directly to the increasing rural-urban migration toward the capital.
President Mahama lamented the lack of economic prospects for young people in the North, stating that after completing senior high school, many face a dead end, which forces them to head south. He noted that existing incentives to rebalance development have not been sufficiently effective. To counter this trend, the administration is proposing the establishment of an Agro-Industrial Park in the Northern part of the country. This park will serve as the focal point for redirecting foreign direct investment, offering necessary incentives to investors who choose the North over Accra, thereby creating local jobs and providing opportunities to curb the drift of youth southward.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
