Presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has pledged to relocate the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to Kumasi if elected President, arguing that the move will stimulate economic activity and create jobs in the Ashanti Region.

Speaking during a political engagement in Kumasi, Mr Agyapong said excessive centralisation of government ministries in Accra has contributed to the economic slowdown of other major cities, particularly Kumasi, which he described as increasingly “quiet” on weekends.

“If I am sworn in as President, I will move the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to Kumasi,” he declared, explaining that the relocation would compel businesses, investors and officials in the lands and forestry sector to operate from the Ashanti regional capital.

Using a mix of English and Twi, the outspoken politician lamented that Kumasi, once a vibrant commercial hub, now experiences low economic activity, especially on weekends. He argued that many people travel from Kumasi to Accra for business and do not return until Monday, leaving the city dormant.

“Today, if you come to Kumasi on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, by 2pm people are already heading back to Accra. By Monday morning, there is no business activity. Kumasi is dead,” he said.

Mr Agyapong believes relocating the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry — which oversees key sectors such as forestry, mining and land administration — will have a ripple effect on the local economy. According to him, anyone seeking to do business related to lands or forestry would have to travel to Kumasi, boosting hospitality, housing and allied services.

“People will come and stay in hotels, hotels will get business. Ministry workers will need accommodation, landlords will rent out houses, new buildings will go up. Plumbers, carpenters, masons — everyone will get work,” he explained.

The NPP presidential hopeful said decentralising government institutions is key to addressing regional economic imbalances and creating inclusive growth, stressing that national development cannot be measured only by activity in Accra.

His comments come amid broader national conversations on decentralisation, job creation and how to revitalise regional economies as Ghana prepares for the next general elections. While successive governments have discussed moving some state institutions outside the capital, implementation has remained limited.

Mr Agyapong, a businessman and former Assin Central MP, is one of several aspirants seeking to lead the NPP into the next election, with economic revival and job creation emerging as dominant campaign themes.