The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development has initiated a field verification exercise to assess petitions for the creation and elevation of Municipal and District Assemblies (M/DAs) across Ghana. The exercise, aimed at evaluating requests from various stakeholders, is scheduled to run from September 15 to September 20, 2024.
In a letter dated September 12, 2024, the ministry confirmed that it had received numerous petitions from chiefs, traditional authorities, Members of Parliament, opinion leaders, citizens, and M/DAs, all advocating for the establishment of new districts or the elevation of existing ones. These petitions have prompted the government to act swiftly in response.
To oversee this significant national exercise, the ministry has established an Inter-Institutional Task Team responsible for conducting the field assessments. The Chief Director of the Ministry, Amin Abdul-Rahaman, explained the process, noting that “The Ministry has constituted an Inter-Institutional Task Team to undertake field assessments of the petitions and make recommendations to the Honourable Minister. This ensures that all requests are thoroughly evaluated, and only those that meet the necessary criteria will be recommended for elevation or creation.”
The ministry has informed the affected M/DAs to prepare for the verification process, which will involve a thorough examination of each petition. Local authorities are expected to provide full cooperation by submitting relevant documents, including maps, photographs, and other supporting materials, to ensure the smooth execution of the exercise.
“M/DAs should endeavour to accord the task team the necessary support by making available all the relevant documents, maps, and photographs for the successful completion of this important national assignment,” the ministry stated in its letter.
This initiative comes at a time when decentralisation efforts are being intensified to bring governance closer to the people and enhance local development. The field verification exercise will play a critical role in determining which areas are ready for the creation of new districts or the elevation of existing ones to municipal status.
In addition, the Ministry has provided a contact person for inquiries related to the process. Stakeholders are encouraged to reach out to Ms. Miriam Nana Ama Amoah, Head of the Decentralisation Unit, for further clarifications.
This move by the government is expected to enhance local governance and provide greater autonomy to regions that meet the criteria for district or municipal status, thereby fostering local development and improving service delivery.
