Gov’t to Assign Major City Streets to Private Firms – Ayariga
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has announced plans to assign streets in major cities to private companies for redevelopment and maintenance as part of measures to improve urban infrastructure.
He also disclosed that the government will digitise property rate collection and construct engineered landfill sites across the country.
Mr Ayariga made the announcements on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, during his first Government Accountability Series briefing.
He said an exercise had begun to allocate streets in major capital cities to companies including banks, manufacturers, construction firms, logistics companies and insurance companies.
Under the proposed arrangement, participating businesses would finance the rebuilding, redevelopment and maintenance of the streets in exchange for opportunities to have the streets renamed after them or jointly named with existing personalities.
The companies would also be granted advertising rights along the streets.
Mr Ayariga said the Chief Executive of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority and the National Urban Roads Director were expected to submit an initial report on the initiative, after which the participation arrangements would be submitted to President John Dramani Mahama for approval.
He said the government also plans to introduce an inner city Big Push Initiative, in collaboration with the Roads Minister, Kwame Governs Agbodza, and Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
The initiative is expected to provide paved roads, walkways, drainage systems, street lighting and green spaces in neighbourhoods across the country.
According to Mr Ayariga, the initiative will be funded largely through a restructured property rate system and betterment charges, with additional government support.
The Minister described the existing property rate collection system as inefficient and vulnerable to corruption, with some payments ending up in private hands.
He said the government would introduce a centrally controlled system that eliminates cash payments, with residents making payments exclusively through MTN Mobile Money and electronic bank transfers.
On sanitation, Mr Ayariga said the Finance Minister was awaiting cost estimates for engineered landfill sites in all regional capitals, including three in the Greater Accra Region.
He said waste transfer stations would also be established in every Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA).
Mr Ayariga explained that households would eventually finance the investment by paying for waste collection through an automated payment system.
He said the initiative is expected to create at least 20,000 permanent jobs in waste management and the circular economy.
The Minister also said President Mahama was satisfied with the initial results of the trial contraflow system for Ayalolo Bus Rapid Transit buses.
A stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026, to review the pilot programme.
Mr Ayariga said the contraflow system “has come to stay” until alternative mobility solutions are developed.
He further disclosed plans to increase funding for the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs, including through the Common Fund Formula, to enable them to resolve chieftaincy disputes more quickly.
On development funding, Mr Ayariga said GH¢9.1 billion, representing six quarters of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), had been transferred to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He said the government remained committed to disbursing at least 88 per cent of the fund.
The Minister also reported that 397 out of 566 CHPS compounds and health centres, 502 of 761 classroom blocks, 3,081 of 4,029 boreholes and 97 of 134 small-town water projects had been completed.
By Esther Padmore Amonoo
