64% of Ghanaians oppose creation of new districts – CLGA survey

A survey by the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) has found that 64 per cent of respondents believe Ghana's 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are sufficient and do not support the creation of additional districts.

The findings point to limited public appetite for expanding the country's local government structure, with attention instead turning to whether existing assemblies have the resources and institutional capacity to deliver on their development responsibilities.

The survey also raises concerns about political influence in the decentralisation process, with 81 per cent of respondents identifying political interference as a significant factor in the creation of new districts.

Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, Dr Eric Oduro Osae, has questioned the rationale for establishing more districts, arguing that increasing the number of administrative units does not automatically translate into stronger local economies or improved development outcomes.

He said the capacity of existing assemblies to fulfil their responsibilities should be assessed before any decision is taken to expand the country's administrative structure.

“The creation of a new district does not automatically create a stronger local economy, a functioning health facility, a reliable water supply, improved roads, better schools or employment opportunities,” he said.

The Head of Research at CLGA, Isaac Owusu, who led the survey, said the findings reflected growing concerns among citizens about the direction of Ghana's decentralisation process and the priorities informing the creation of new districts.

He said about 64 per cent of respondents opposed the creation of additional districts, while 87 per cent called for a freeze on the establishment of new ones.

Mr Owusu also drew attention to the finding that 81 per cent of respondents believed political interference influenced decisions to create new districts.

He said the findings raised questions about whether the process was being guided primarily by the development needs of communities or by political considerations.

The survey adds to the debate about the effectiveness of Ghana's decentralisation system and whether creating more administrative units necessarily leads to better local governance, improved public services and development at the community level.