The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Wa, Alhaji Nurah Issah Danwana, has called for the upgrade of the Wa Municipality to a metropolitan status.
The area, he argued, has met the key requirements in population growth, infrastructure, and urban expansion.
Speaking to journalists after appearing before Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee public sitting on Friday, Alhaji Danwana said the elevation of Wa would reflect its growing importance as an administrative and commercial hub in the Upper West Region.
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“If you look at our NDC manifesto, it clearly states that Wa will be upgraded to a metropolitan status this year. Wa has expanded significantly in population and development; it is only right that we recognize its new status,” he said.
The MCE pointed out that the municipality has seen steady growth in housing, commerce, and social amenities over the past decade. He disclosed the Assembly is currently implementing projects that have transformed the face of Wa — from new school blocks and CHPS compounds to improved sanitation and road infrastructure.
“The construction of the Wa bypass road and the establishment of satellite markets will further open up the city and attract more investment,” he said and explained that the ongoing 24-hour economy market project and other urban initiatives have positioned Wa as a major service and trade center in northern Ghana
Alhaji Danwana emphasized that Wa also plays a strategic role in regional integration, serving as a key transit and administrative hub connecting Ghana to neighbouring francophone countries.
“Wa is not just the regional capital — it’s the heartbeat of economic activity in the Upper West Region and a gateway to other Sahelian economies,” he noted.
“The metropolitan status will enhance planning, attract more central government attention, and improve resource allocation.”
The MCE expressed optimism that the John Dramani Mahama administration would fulfill its commitment to upgrade the municipality. “We have already been informed that the processes are underway, and I am confident that Wa will soon be declared a full-fledged metropolis,” he said.
Currently, Wa is one of Ghana’s leading municipal capitals with an estimated population of over 200,000 and expanding infrastructure in education, health, and commerce.
It serves as the regional capital of the Upper West Region and houses several public institutions, including the University for Development Studies (Wa Campus), regional offices of major state agencies, and a growing private business sector.
The upgrade to metropolitan status would make Wa the first city in northern Ghana outside Tamale to achieve that designation, a move expected to boost investment, planning, and urban management.