A seven-member committee established by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to assess the potential upgrading of districts and municipalities across Ghana has recommended the elevation of 33 districts and municipalities to higher administrative status.
The committee, chaired by Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), proposed that 20 districts be upgraded to municipal status, 12 municipalities elevated to metropolitan status, and one district upgraded directly to a metropolitan assembly.
Presenting the committee’s report to the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, at a brief ceremony in Accra on Monday, Mr. Nketia urged the Ministry to provide adequate funding to support development in the affected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He explained that some proposed elevations were initiated through stakeholder requests, while others were recommended by the Ministry after assessing the developmental needs of specific assemblies.
“And so we put all this together, and as part of our assignment we had the liberty to undertake field visits whenever necessary. I want to report that it was only on one occasion that it became necessary to conduct a field visit, and that was to Ketu South,” he noted.
“We have attached a mini report of the visit. It was a big eye-opener to the committee in the discharge of our responsibilities. I want to thank my committee members for their cooperation and hard work,” Mr. Nketia added.
He further highlighted that some MMDAs were facing development deficits due to inadequate funding. The committee therefore recommended that the Ministry develop a three-year plan and provide seed funding to support rapid infrastructure and socio-economic development in upgraded districts.
Mr. Nketia also observed that some districts previously upgraded to municipal status existed only on paper, as they continued to exhibit characteristics of districts due to limited infrastructure development.
“The committee has recommended that the Ministry consider preparing a standard manual to guide future upgrades and develop a strategic plan to address the needs of districts. It should also designate special development enclaves to promote investment, growth, and development,” he stated.
In response, Mr. Ibrahim thanked the committee for submitting its report ahead of schedule. Although the committee was given eight weeks to complete its work, it delivered its findings within six weeks.
He pledged that the report would be submitted to the President for consideration and assured that the recommendations would be given serious attention.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
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