The Ranking Member on Local Government and Rural Development, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) across the country to actively involve residents in the formulation of local development plans to promote sustainable and inclusive growth.
Speaking to Members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) on the sidelines of the Parliament’s Local Government Committee sitting on the 2023 and 2024 Auditor-General’s Reports on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Mr. Asenso-Boakye stressed that Ghana’s Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) mandates assemblies to engage communities in their planning and implementation processes.
“You cannot plan for the people; you have to plan with the people,” he emphasized. “Your aspirations may differ from those of the community. Planning with them ensures development reflects their real needs, you don’t go building a sports stadium in a community that lacks schools or sanitation facilities.”
According to him, local development plans must be based on accurate data and broad consultation, enabling citizens to take ownership of decisions and outcomes.
“Beyond preparing plans, MMDCEs must hold stakeholder meetings so residents feel part of the process and help sustain the progress made,” he said.
Managing Urbanization and Local Pressures Touching on urbanization, the Bantama MP and former Minister for Works and Housing noted that rapid population growth and economic expansion in urban areas were exerting significant pressure on public infrastructure and social services.
“Urbanization requires local authorities to expand access to schools, health facilities, and sanitation systems. This is the essence of local government, ensuring efficient service delivery that meets the needs of growing communities,” he observed.
He emphasized that effective planning and prudent resource allocation are key to addressing challenges such as flooding, congestion, and environmental degradation.
Poor Planning Behind Flooding
Mr. Asenso-Boakye, who is also a development planner, blamed perennial flooding in Ghana’s major cities on poor planning, indiscriminate waste disposal, and the construction of buildings on waterways.
“As a country, we’ve been grappling with flooding for years due to solid waste dumping in water channels and unauthorized construction on waterways,” he explained. “Assemblies are required by law to regulate physical development through the issuance of permits. If that process is followed strictly, no structure should end up on a watercourse.”
He called on assemblies to enforce building regulations and demolish unauthorized structures that threaten public safety.
“If anyone puts up a building without a permit, especially on a waterway, it is the responsibility of the assembly to pull it down,” he said.
Promoting Accountability and Financial Discipline
Mr. Asenso-Boakye also disclosed that the Local Government Committee is currently examining findings in the Auditor-General’s reports, focusing on financial accountability and governance practices within the assemblies.
“We are assessing how assemblies are addressing financial infractions, and I’m encouraged that many MCEs and their officers now understand the importance of adhering to the Public Financial Management Act,” he said.
He described the committee’s work as collaborative rather than punitive, aimed at guiding and supporting assemblies to improve governance and service delivery.
“All the local government actors we’ve engaged are willing to strengthen systems on the ground. Our role as a committee is to advise, support, and ensure that best practices are followed for effective local administration,” he added.
Analysis
Mr. Asenso-Boakye’s call underscores a long-standing gap in Ghana’s decentralization process — the lack of community participation in local planning. Although existing laws promote citizen engagement, many assemblies still implement projects that fail to meet the real needs of residents.
By urging MMDCEs to “plan with the people, not for the people,” the Ranking Member reinforces the principle of participatory governance envisioned in Act 936 a step that could enhance accountability, deepen local democracy, and ensure development that truly reflects the priorities of communities.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com