Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor has emphasized the need to deepen local governance in Ghana as a critical step towards addressing developmental challenges.
Speaking in Parliament, he pointed to the failure of the country’s decentralization efforts to meet its intended objectives, which he described as a major stumbling block to national progress.
Mr. Jinapor stressed that while decentralization is enshrined in Ghana’s governance framework, its implementation has been largely superficial. He pointed out that many critical functions and resources that should empower district assemblies to drive development at the local level are centralized.
This, he argued, hinders the ability of local governments to tailor solutions to the unique needs of their communities.
One of the key issues he raised was the administration of the District Assemblies Common Fund. According to him, the fund, originally designed to resource district assemblies, electoral areas, and unit areas, has been undermined by centralized procurement and disbursement practices. He noted that such centralized operations often lead to resources being allocated without considering the specific needs of districts.
Mr. Jinapor emphasized the importance of community-driven development and cited the United Kingdom’s decentralized governance structures, such as Council Homes and the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, as successful models. He proposed a similar approach in Ghana, where local government structures are empowered to prioritize development projects, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and road maintenance.
He also underscored the need for local governments to generate their own revenue and resources. He called for the removal of restrictive policies that stifle innovation in revenue generation at the assembly level, enabling assemblies to fund their development priorities independently.
He called for a deliberate and sustained effort to empower local governance structures, emphasizing that such reforms are necessary to ensure development reaches the grassroots and benefits every Ghanaian.
