The Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) has taken another major step towards the development of the proposed Afienya Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a technical review of the draft Local Plan for the project.
The review brought together key stakeholders from the Ningo-Prampram and Shai-Osudoku District Assemblies, as well as a number of state institutions responsible for spatial planning, infrastructure, environmental management, water, roads and disaster management.
The Joint Technical Sub-Committee meeting, held at the GFZA Head Office at Cantonments in Accra on Thursday, August 20, 2026, was aimed at scrutinising the Draft Local Plan and gathering technical inputs to ensure that the proposed industrial park is developed in an orderly, sustainable and well-coordinated manner.
The meeting was attended by district planning officers, engineers, physical planning officers and environmental health officers from the two assemblies.
Also represented were the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Lands Commission, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Water Company Limited, Ghana Hydrological Services Agency, Department of Urban Roads and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
Strategic development
The engagement forms part of the GFZA’s broader efforts to transform its newly acquired 1,238-acre parcel of land at Afienya into a modern Special Economic Zone capable of supporting industrial and commercial activities.
To ensure that the development conforms to national spatial planning standards, the GFZA engaged LUSPA to prepare a Local Plan to provide a clear framework for land use, infrastructure development, environmental management and the overall spatial organisation of the proposed SEZ.
Opening the meeting, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Operations) of the GFZA, Mr Lateef Apau Wiredu, expressed appreciation to the participating institutions for their contributions towards the planning process.
He particularly commended LUSPA for its commitment and technical expertise in preparing the Draft Local Plan.
Mr Wiredu stressed the strategic importance of the Afienya project and said the involvement of the various institutions was critical to ensuring that the development was guided by comprehensive technical considerations.
He underscored the need for an inclusive and participatory planning process involving all relevant stakeholders to create a strong foundation for the successful implementation of the project.
Technical scrutiny
The Greater Accra Regional Director of LUSPA, Madam Okyere, who facilitated the meeting, said the technical review constituted an important stage in the process towards securing final approval for the Local Plan.
She explained that the inputs of the various institutions would help strengthen the plan and ensure that it addressed the technical, environmental, infrastructural and spatial requirements of the proposed development.
Madam Okyere further disclosed that the proposed Afienya SEZ formed part of the broader 13,200-acre Shai-Afienya-Dawhenya Industrial Enclave and Urban Renewal Project.
Mr Elvis Mensah of LUSPA subsequently took participants through the Draft Local Plan, outlining the proposed spatial arrangements and other planning considerations for the development.
The participating institutions reviewed the plan and made technical inputs and recommendations intended to improve the document before it proceeds to the next stage of consideration.
The recommendations from the meeting are expected to guide further refinement of the Draft Local Plan before it is submitted for consideration and approval by the relevant Spatial Planning Committees.
Industrialisation drive
The development of the Afienya SEZ is expected to contribute significantly to Ghana’s industrialisation and investment agenda by creating an organised location for businesses and industrial activities.
Beyond providing space for industrial development, the project is expected to facilitate investment, promote exports, create employment opportunities and stimulate economic activity in the surrounding communities and the wider Greater Accra Region.
The emphasis on spatial planning at the initial stages of the project is also expected to help prevent uncoordinated development and ensure that infrastructure, environmental considerations, transportation and other essential services are properly integrated into the industrial park.
The GFZA’s latest engagement therefore reflects its commitment to stakeholder collaboration and strategic planning as it works towards establishing the Afienya SEZ as a modern industrial hub.
The Head of Estate and Zones Development at the GFZA, Mr Benjamin Obeng, and other officers of the Authority were also present at the meeting.
The Authority said it would continue to work with the relevant institutions and stakeholders to advance the planning and development of the proposed SEZ.
The Afienya project is ultimately expected to become an important catalyst for industrialisation, private-sector investment, employment creation, export development and sustainable economic growth.
