The opposition National Democratic Congress has called on Ghanaians to actively take part in the district-level elections scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 19 2023.
In a statement issued by the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the party indicated that it has observed with concern, the ‘extremely low’ level of public interest in Tuesday’s December 19 elections which will mark the eighth time since the country started holding district-level elections.
According to Mr, Nketiah, the reasons for such generally low ‘euphoria’ on the part of Ghanaians towards upcoming district-level election are mainly due to the failure of the New Patriotic Party administration to disburse funds constitutionally required to the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country.
The opposition National Democratic Congress National Chairman further alleged that almost all the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country are ‘financially distressed’ and attributed the situation to the mismanagement of the country’s economy and the country as a whole by the New Patriotic Party administration.
“Due to the obnoxious and anti-development Capping and Realignment policy of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) which is used by MMDAs to undertake various developmental projects, is being diverted for other purposes. This situation has left many of these MMDAs highly encumbered and incapable of undertaking any meaningful development at the local level.
“Currently, Common Fund payments are in arrears for several quarters, thereby making it difficult for the Assemblies to procure even basic supplies for their effective running. This coupled with the capping and alignment policy has conspired to deny MMDAs of resources for undertaking developmental projects at the local level. In most cases, between 20% to 50% of the IGF of various Assemblies is capped, while in some instances, everything including market tolls, toilet fees and mortuary fees are taken by the central government, leaving the Assemblies with nothing”.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
Again, Mr Asiedu Nketiah recounted that the lack of funds for the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies has made them unable to undertake any development initiatives in their respective assemblies
He emphasized that the situation has negatively affected public confidence in the ability of elected representatives such as Assembly and Unit Committee Members to attract development to local communities, which has ultimately undermined the country’s local government system in recent times.
NDC Pledges To Restore Ghana’s Local Government System
However, Mr Johson Asiedu Nketiah promised that the National Democratic Congress and its flagbearer, Former President John Dramani when elected in the 2024 general elections shall take urgent measures and steps to restore the country’s ailing local government system to normalcy.
He began by indicating that the next National Democratic Congress administration under Former President John Dramani Mahama would abolish the ‘Capping and Alignment policy’ introduced by the New Patriotic Party administration to free up the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).
He noted that the revenues allocated to the District Assembly Common Fund will therefore be channelled into the real development needs of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country to address their development challenges including the provision of infrastructural and other needs of their respective local areas.
Moreover, the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah expressed the party’s commitment to empower the various assemblies in the country to generate and retain more internally generated funds to finance their operations and other activities.
“Complete the operationalisation of sub-district structures (Town and Area Councils and Unit Committees) with the allocation of a percentage of the Assemblies revenue to fund micro projects within their jurisdiction”.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
In addition, Mr Nketiah noted with deep concern, the National Democratic Congress proposal to drastically reduce the number of Ministers in the country and redirect the savings made to pay allowances to Assembly members across the country.
He concluded with assurance that if such measures are implemented, it will go a long way to restore the country’s ailing local government system and strengthen decentralisation in the country.
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