The promotion of accountability and effective democracy through local governance
| 1 |
To oversee the election of MMDCEs in two years of coming into office |
| Feasible | |
| The election of MMDCEs has been postponed to 2021 instead of the 2018 promised, because the Government has chosen to have the MMDCEs elected on partisan basis instead of the original intent of the popular election without the involvement of political parties. | |
| 2 |
To decentralize and equip the Land Valuation Board (LVB) to provide direct technical support on property valuation to MMDAs |
| Feasible | |
| According to the MLGRD, the process has commenced with a review of the laws and policies relating to valuation of taxable properties at the MMDA level. This is not yet in the public domain. | |
| 3 |
To enact a Local Government Financing Act |
| Feasible | |
| There is no Bill pending before Parliament so far. However, according to the MLGRD, a draft Local Government Financial Management Bill has been developed by the Ministries of Local Government and Finance pending Attorney Generals advice and Cabinet approval before going to Parliament. This information is not yet in the public domain | |
| 4 |
To enact the Financial Memorandum for MMDAs. |
| Feasible | |
| There is no Bill pending before Parliament. However, according to the MLGRD, it is merging this promise with the proposed Local Government Financial Management Bill. | |
| 5 |
To speedily enact the Municipal Finance Bill for MMDAs to access capital markets |
| Feasible | |
| According to an official of the MLGRD, this is the same as the proposed Local Government Financial Management Bill anticipated to be developed. | |
| 6 |
To abolish the existing practice of central government manipulation of the DACF through the procurement process |
| Not Feasible | |
| This is not only a failed promise but appears to be reversal of the promise as the government is reported to have issued a circular on the utilization of the DACF contrary to what Parliament has approved. According to the Minority, government has written to the MMDAs to allocate 80 per cent of the DACF for its priority projects. The Minority accused the government of reducing the Assemblies’ allocation to only GH¢713,385.81 on the average for discretionary spending. |
