Accra's Team Plan
Making the city awesome for kids!
Have you ever wondered who decides where the new parks, schools and clean streets in your city go — and how you can help?
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly made its very own district plan so that every child in the city can grow up safe, healthy, happy and ready to learn. The plan brings families and community leaders onto the same team, so every kid gets the care and support they need to succeed.
First, two big words
Who makes the plan — and what is it?
Grown-ups use some tricky words for this. Here is what they actually mean.
What is a District Assembly?
Imagine your neighbourhood as a huge team — the District Assembly is like the coaches and leaders of that team!
They are the local government people whose job is to take care of the town: fix roads, build schools, keep streets clean, and make sure everyone stays safe and happy.
What is a District Plan?
A district plan is like a giant map made by local leaders to turn a town or city into a much better place to live!
Instead of adults just guessing what to do, the plan lists the biggest problems — dirty streets, schools that need help, parks that need to be safer — then writes a step-by-step checklist for fixing them.
Why did they make the plan?
So every child in Accra grows up well
The big goal is the same for every single kid — no matter who they are or what their family has.
Safe
Streets, homes and playgrounds where children are looked after and protected.
Healthy
Good food, clean surroundings and care from doctors and nurses when it is needed.
Happy & ready to learn
Loving families, fun places to play, and schools that make children curious.
Who is the plan for?
Young children and their families
Everybody counts — and the plan gives extra help to the families who need it most.
Young children & families
Every little kid in Accra, and the grown-ups who look after them.
Children with disabilities
Kids whose bodies or brains work in their own way, and who need the right support to join in.
Families who have less money
So that not having much money never decides what a child can become.
Families in tougher neighbourhoods
Places with more health problems, or with dirtier air, water and streets.
The big idea
get the right support,
every child has a better chance
to grow up healthy, happy and strong.
Children
You are the reason the whole plan exists — and the best person to say what your city needs.
Families
Parents and carers get tips, tools and support so home is a happy place to grow up in.
Communities
Neighbours, teachers and leaders all pull in the same direction instead of working alone.
Understanding the plan
6 Super Action Zones
To make it all happen, Accra's leaders are focusing on six big areas — and every one of them points back at the same thing.
Green & Clean Spaces. Kids need safe, clean places to play and grow — so the city is planting trees, sorting its rubbish and cleaning up fast.
Green & Clean Spaces
Environment
Kids need safe, clean places to play and grow!
Planting more trees
Building green parks and tree-filled spaces where children can play safely.
Colour-coded bins
Teaching schools and families how to separate their trash using special coloured bins and recycling programmes.
Smart clean-up
Using phone apps and digital maps to spot dirty areas and clean them up fast.
Building a compost plant
Creating a special place where leftover food and plant scraps are turned into compost, which is food for trees and gardens.
Helping Every Child Belong
Disability inclusion
Every child is special, and no one gets left behind!
School helpers
Helping mothers of children with special needs join schools, to support teaching and learning.
Friendly communities
Teaching everyone how to be kind, welcoming and supportive to kids of all abilities.
Better care
Helping families get health insurance that covers special medical care and therapy.
Helping Families Grow Stronger
Poverty reduction
When families have what they need, children thrive!
New opportunities
Creating jobs in fun areas like beach tourism and local businesses.
Tech & tools
Using technology and digital markets to help parents sell goods, earn money and support their homes.
Loving Families & Connected Neighbourhoods
Responsive caregiving
Happy homes and caring neighbours make kids feel safe.
Parenting hubs
Setting up community centres where parents can learn great tips for taking care of young children.
Family fun days
Organising fun events, community clubs and mentorship programmes to bring families together.
Yummy & Healthy Food
Nutrition
Growing bodies need good food!
Home gardens
Teaching families how to grow their own fresh, healthy vegetables at home using recycled containers.
Food vouchers
Sending special mobile-money food vouchers to families who need help buying healthy meals.
Keeping Every Child Safe & Counted
Safety and security
Every child has a name, a birth certificate, and a caring team looking out for them!
Birth certificate days
Fun visits to health clinics, preschools and neighbourhoods, so every child easily gets their official birth certificate and legal name.
Training helper teams
Teaching teachers, health workers and community helpers how to spot when a child needs extra support — and guide them to the right help quickly.
Building a helper network
Connecting birth registries, doctors, social workers, teachers and city leaders into one big team, so no child gets left behind.
Why six zones and not one
You can't build a city with one block
Imagine building Accra out of giant toy blocks. Every colour is one of the six action zones — take a colour away and the whole city wobbles.
Clean parks are lovely — but not if families have no food. Good food helps — but not if children are left out of school. When all six zones are built together, Accra becomes a city where every child can grow up safe, healthy and happy.
You are part of Accra's team!
This is your city too. Your voice helps decide what gets fixed first.
Your turn
What can you do?
Speak up about your neighbourhood
Sort your rubbish into the right bin
Make sure every kid is included
Working together
Our partners
These are the teams helping Accra turn the plan into real parks, schools and healthy meals.
This research was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) [NIHR158910] using UK international development funding from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK government.