Accra: Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), emphasized the crucial role of decentralisation in national development, highlighting its potential to empower local authorities to address specific regional needs.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister noted that despite its importance, decentralisation faces challenges, particularly concerning the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), which is constitutionally mandated to support local development initiatives. He stressed the need for prioritizing the effective utilization of this fund to fully harness decentralisation and drive sustainable development.
Mr. Ibrahim made these remarks during a meeting with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Financial Cooperation in Accra. The discussions focused on improving development in the local governance sector. He mentioned that President Mahama is undertaking initiatives to enhance decentralisation by consolidating development authorities under the MLGCRA, with a pledge to allocate approximately 80 per cent of the DACF directly to districts. This move aims to empower local authorities to cater to unique regional needs and priorities.
The Minister appreciated the Embassy's significant contributions to Ghana's decentralisation efforts. He acknowledged previous government efforts to improve certain services and expressed satisfaction with stakeholders' positive responses to the reforms and initiatives introduced by the President. This renewed commitment to decentralisation is seen as a positive step towards empowering local authorities and promoting effective governance.
Madam Franziska Jebens, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, highlighted the longstanding partnership between Ghana and Germany in development cooperation. She noted the focus areas of their cooperation, including the decentralisation of local governments, energy efficiency, renewable energies, and sustainable economic development with emphasis on private sector business development.
She expressed the Embassy's satisfaction with the Minister's new visions, particularly the emphasis on enhancing the financial viability of the Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). The Embassy is committed to providing strengthened technical and financial support to the MMDAs to meet citizens' needs for basic infrastructure and services. She anticipated that with their support, Ghana's Local Government Ministry would successfully achieve its goals of improving local conditions for citizens, leading to more efficient and effective implementation of basic infrastructure and services.
