It is foolish to give money to AMA - former GIMPA Rector

Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Stephen Adei has questioned why governments over the years have continuously release funds to some metropolitan assemblies in the country.

He is unhappy that some of the metropolitan assemblies though well endowed, are being over-pampered by the government because government still gives money to the assemblies to pay for its day-to-day administration.


He made the statement at a three day orientation workshop organised by the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council for the leadership of the various Municipal District Assemblies in the region.


Using the case of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) as an example, he stated that they have the financial muscle and can generate funds for their own project and that the government should stop pampering them by cutting off funding.


Professor Adei said "I am so angry, honestly, that the government of Ghana gives money to AMA. Isn't it foolish?"


Citing the collection of property rates as an example, Professor Adei analyzed that the AMA had so much potential to generate income noting that "if every house pays 10 cedis, we have given them [AMA] more than the government gives them".

He further questioned the low property rate on buildings located in plush areas in Accra including his own.


"I have a house in West Legon, the rate is 168 Ghana cedis. How can you [have a house] in West Legon, Airport Residential area, you say the person should pay 200 a year for property rate? , he queried.


Recommending higher property rates, the former Rector said "the person [should] pay 1000 Ghana cedis, if you don't do it, your house is auctioned, that is what is done everywhere else "


According to the management expert "it is [President] Mahama who should get money from the AMA, not the opposite. And all that he has to do, is to put somebody [there] who will do it".