The Marine Drive, according to Adjaye & Associates, is a 241-acre redevelopment scheme of Accra’s waterfront initiated by Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The brief for the project — the origins of which trace back to the country’s independence 60 years ago — called for a scheme that would establish an iconic skyline for Accra and transform the capital’s city center into a world-class tourism enclave. The Marine Drive Accra project will also provide essential infrastructure to support the country’s developing cultural and creative industries.
But this article by The Sun shows a whole new reimagination of the project.
A massive £12.6 billion has already been raised and allocated by African Development Bank (AfDB) to build a new highway along the Gulf of Guinea from Abidjan to Lagos.
This highway sets the stage for a megalopolis that will span the five countries included in the AfDB’s plan.
Africa’s population is growing rapidly, resulting in a demographic revolution.
Along the beaches of the five countries, high-rise towers, offices, shopping centers, and hotels are springing up more and more often, blurring the borders.
With 1.4 billion people, Africa is home to 17% of the world’s population. However, the UN estimates that by 2100, its population will almost double to a startling four billion, accounting for 40% of the world’s population.
By this time, experts predict that the megalopolis, which stretches from Ivory Coast to Nigeria via Ghana, Togo, and Benin, will be home to almost half a billion people.
In the not-too-distant future, the mega region’s population is expected to increase to 51 million by 2035.
