Accra to Have 13 Sub-Metros

Seven new Sub-Metropolitan Assemblies are soon to be created in addition to the six Sub-Metros already in existence under the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in the Greater Accra Region.

The move forms part of a general decision that has been taken by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to create more District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies in the country to ensure efficiency and vibrancy in the country's local government and decentralization policy.

The sector minister, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu said in an interview with Metro Mail yesterday that the relevant Legislative Instrument (L.I.) has been placed before Parliament for approval during this meeting of the House in accordance with the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462) which states under section 1(3) that "The President shall in the exercise of his powers direct the Electoral Commission (EC) to make such recommendations as it considers appropriate for the purpose".

He said once the LI receives approval from Parliament, the EC would be notified to immediately begin the process of demarcating the boundaries of the new districts and assign names to them.

The minister said the law provides that the President in consultation with the appropriate bodies must take several factors into consideration before deciding to create new local authorities.

These include in the case of a district; that there is a minimum population of seventy-five thousand people. In a municipality, it must consist of a single compact settlement with a minimum population of ninety-five thousand people. In the case of a metropolis, the minister said the law requires that there should be a minimum of two hundred and fifty thousand people in addition to the geographical contiguity and economic viability of the area.

Mr. Baah-Wiredu said the figures of the last Population and Housing Census show that population in the six Sub-Metros under AMA, namely Ablekuma, Okai Koi, Kpeshie, Ashiedu Keteke, Osu Klottey and Ayawaso has increased dramatically in the past few years and this justifies the creation of new Sub-Metros.

The minister said the creation of new local authorities would help to address some of the factors that are frustrating the effective functioning of the existing ones.

He said the process which has been under consideration by the ministry for a long time, is aimed at enhancing the management capacities of the Sub-Metros especially in the area of revenue collection and waste management. "Because there would be offices of the Sub-Metros closer to residents, they are expected to improve on their revenue collection and become more efficient with waste management, in that the officers in charge of these activities would be closely supervised and monitored".

On the performance of AMA in the administration of the Accra Metropolis, Mr. Baah-Wiredu said it is lacking in terms of efficiency in revenue collection and waste management duties of the assembly. He said AMA appears to have been overwhelmed by the size of the city's population and magnitude of waste generation which continues to plague residents and visitors especially in the Central Business District.

He expressed displeasure about drains in the Central Business District which are choked with plastic waste and the filth that has engulfed all the market centres and lorry stations resulting in the bad smell in the city. "I think this is unacceptable for Accra as the nation's capital city, irrespective of the circumstances of the city authorities."

Mr. Baah-Wiredu however said the ministry has taken steps to support AMA with the supply of the necessary tools and equipment such as tractors, shovels, gloves, uniforms, boots, and first aid kits and provide funds to recruit staff and pay salaries and allowances promptly.

He said the Ministry has also directed the AMA to undertake regular inspection of all on-going building projects in the city, especially the practice of constructing new floors on old buildings in the Central Business District. This is to prevent them from collapsing as happened recently at Swalaba, a suburb of Accra.