MMDAs told to brace up for years ahead

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have been told to brace up for the years ahead to fit into the 40 year development plan of the country launched by President John Mahama.

Mr Eric Oduro Osei, the Dean of Studies and Research of the Institute of Local Government Studies, who made the call during stakeholders meeting organized by the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority Millennium Village (SADA-MVP) Project, in Bolgatanga on Tuesday, told the leadership of the MMDAs and the Departmental heads that with the 40 year development plan, it was not going to be the normal business as usual.

The workshop, which attracted District Chief Executives (DCEs), District Coordinating Directors, Planning and Budget officers, heads of departments among others, from the West Mamprusi, Mamprugu – Moaduri and Builsa South Districts, was aimed at improving the ability of District Assemblies to fulfill their obligations through effective leadership and planning

Whilst commending the President for launching the Development plan, he urged the leadership of the MMDAs to start thinking and planning seriously on how to fit in their programmes and policies into the 40 year development plan so that it will be in tandem with it.

He said Decentralization in Ghana has turned to focus so much on the “supply side” and, appealed to the stakeholders to think outside the box to solve local challenges, instead of relying solely on the District Assembly Common Fund.

On Internal revenue mobilization, the Dean proposed to the MMDAs to set up their own businesses at the grassroots level to help them raise income internally for development.

The Dean also impressed upon the MMDAs to go into Barter trading with organization in their respective localities, and cited for instance that, they could exchange some of their property rates with fuel, which they often purchase for their office vehicles.

Whilst also calling on them to go into private partnership with the private sector, he impressed upon them to encourage Business and Religious Organizations in their jurisdictions to honour their Corporate Social Responsibilities.

“As MMDAs you need to apply the contingency theory and to also link your revenue to service delivery. It is only through this that the citizens will appreciate and pay their taxes”, he stressed.

He hinted that the District Development Facility often enjoyed by the MMDAs from donors would end by 2018, and said the Assemblies would be made to issue Municipal Bonds to support in the running of their activities.