As more than half of Ghanaians now call urban centers home, a report has pulled back the curtain on what life is really like in Ghana’s municipalities, identifying the best and worst areas to live.
The maiden Ghana Cities Monitor (GCM) has ranked 20 municipalities across the country, using the direct feedback of residents to determine which areas are providing the best and worst quality of life.
The study was conducted by CDD-Ghana with support from the Hewlett Foundation. Rather than relying solely on government data, the GCM tracks citizen experiential data, which is the actual, daily experiences of people living in the selected municipalities.
The Champions: Ghana’s Top Five Municipalities
In a competitive race for urban excellence, Ayawaso West in the Greater Accra region emerged as the most livable municipality in Ghana, securing the top spot with a score of 43.8 out of 100. Residents there rated their city highly for its environmental services and economic infrastructure.
Close on its heels are two powerhouses from the Ashanti region. The Juaben Municipality, which took second place with 43.4, and Old Tafo, coming in third at 43.3. The top five is rounded out by a tie between La Dadekotopon and Obuasi, both scoring 42.5.
According to the report, these “top-tier” municipalities share a common strength. They all performed well in waste management, reliable electricity, and personal safety.
The Struggle: Ghana’s Bottom Five Municipalities
The report highlights the sobering “deepening divide” in development between the northern part of the country and the south. Sadly, 2 of the 5 worst municipalities were found in the northern part of the country.
Savelugu was ranked as the least livable municipality in the study, finishing in 20th place with a score of only 28.1. Just above it was Gushiegu at 19th place with 33.8.
The other municipalities filling the bottom five spots include Ejura Sekyere Dumase (35.6), Ablekuma West (35.7), and Sagnerigu (36.5).
For citizens in these areas, daily life is significantly harder due to poor sanitation, lack of water access, and fewer job training opportunities.
A Relatable Reality: Room for Improvement Everywhere
While some municipalities are doing better than others, the GCM offers a reality check for the entire nation. It is worth noting that not a single municipality reached a passing grade of 50 out of 100.
This means that even in the “best” cities like Ayawaso West, residents are still facing major hurdles. Across the board, Ghanaians are frustrated with the same three core issues:
• Poor Social Services: Citizens everywhere gave very low marks for the quality and affordability of education and health services.
• Economic Gaps: There is a widespread lack of skills training and livelihood support to help people find better jobs.
• Disconnected Leaders: A staggering number of people feel they have no say in local governance, with few opportunities to sit down with city authorities to discuss local problems.
Why This Matters to You
The GCM is more than just a list of winners and losers; it is a tool meant to drive development. By providing clear, citizen-driven data, it intends to move city planning away from guesswork and toward evidence-based decisions that actually improve your daily life.
Whether you live in the heights of Ayawaso West or the struggling streets of Savelugu, this report is a call for city authorities to be more accountable and responsive to the people they serve.
