Mass urban-rural migration beckons Ghana if…

One of the political regimes in Ghana that pursued rural housing to the hilt was the government of the Supreme Military Council, SMC I. The Head of State at the time was General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, in power from 1972 to 1978.

His interest in rural life in that period stemmed from the belief, that rural economies are the platter or platform upon which all “ye springs forth.” In other words, the rural settings were the foundations of life, and the cities the superstructures. Many country-folks were born in the villages and small towns from where they make entry to the cities when of age.

The rationale for bringing rural housing up to speed was to make life comfortable for farmers and other workers whose postings were in the rural areas so they deliver a performance to keep the economy moving. At that time, even the population of Ghana was low.

Current realities mirror a population explosion with higher urban densities. The concomitant effects include the creation of slums, and acute pressure on all social services.

To tip the scales, some suggest accelerated rural housing in the make of the Acheampong era.

It is considered a pillar of rural development as that would constitute a basis for postings of critical service providers who fail to take up appointments for lack of adequate and decent shelter in the countryside. Absence of multiple infrastructure also deter big businesses from locating in the remote parts of the country

The opposite scenario would offset rural-urban migration in a large measure. In that reverse gear, we are likely to see a scarce situation like urban-rural migration, on the common denominator of rural housing. A retention of a sizable part of the growing population in the countryside might depreciate rural tranquility, but with the effect of bringing to an equilibrium the disproportionate scales between urban and rural Ghana.