He applauded the government’s decision to allocate at least 80% of resources to local assemblies, describing the move as a shift from the previous administration’s centralized approach of funding projects at the local level through its development authorities which failed to yield the expected results.

According to him, the new directive will empower assemblies to fund projects and programmes at the local level based on their needs assessments, an approach that was undermined in the previous administration.

“Now it is the district assemblies that are going to execute those projects which will have direct impact and will be able to create employment for the people which will give real meaning to the President’s resetting agenda”, he stated.

The MCE, who was speaking in an exclusive interview with Ghanadistricts.com, dismissed concerns that the approach would make local assemblies overly dependent on central government funds, adding that the move would rather motivate local authorities to boost their internal revenue generation.

He seized the opportunity to encourage Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to adopt modern strategies for raising funds as the Common Fund alone is insufficient to fund their numerous programmes and projects.

“The needs of the people are too many thus you need much more than what has been given to you to be able to meet the aspiration so you have to be ingenious in creating a lot of revenue to meet the expectations of your people.”, the Mayor said.