News:
January 21, 2025
The Minister designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim has served notice of working together with relevant stakeholders to improve the economy of the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.
Responding to question at his vetting, the Minister designate stated that the property rate collection would be one of the fastest and easiest ways to help drive the finances of MMDAs to champion development.
He noted that since 2009 when he entered parliament successive ministers of the sector have had reason to complain about property rate, and tour of about 154 MMDAs by the Committee of Local Government in Parliament identified property rate as one critical area, “ the low hanging fruits” to look at to improve the funding of the MMDAs.
He expressed delight that the centralized system adopted of the previous administration which then give back just a portion to the MMDAs has been reversed since the practice was seen to be ineffective.
As such when given the node, “it is an area to focus on with the involvement of chiefs, Members of Parliament, and practitioners to help achieve a better revenue for the assemblies to carry out their developments.
The Minister designate who admits that one of the core functions of the MMDAS is the development of the local economy also stated that he would work with previous ministers of the sector to come up with strategies and policies to support vision of the President to improve upon the local economy of in every district using comparative natural advantages of the various districts.
“We will work together to improve the local economic development of the MMDAs, and I said based on their economic comparative resource endowed advantages.”
Ghanamps.com