Minister Haruna Iddrisu Backs Elective MMDCEs as Local Governance Disputes and Funding Challenges Mount

13th August•3 min read•15 sources

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has formally endorsed the government's initiative to transition Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to elective positions, marking a significant step in Ghana’s decentralization agenda. Speaking at the 2026 National Dialogue on Decentralisation in Accra, Iddrisu emphasized that such elections should remain non-partisan to prevent national political rivalries from disrupting local governance. This stance was echoed by Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), who urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reach a consensus on the matter. Dr. Akwetey noted that the lack of political agreement has historically hindered effective reform, citing the failed 2019 referendum as a cautionary tale while calling for a system that balances party participation with credible independent candidates.

While the national dialogue focuses on structural reforms, local authorities are grappling with significant jurisdictional and financial challenges. In Tema, a sharp conflict has erupted between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and TDC Ghana Limited over planning authority. Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive Ebi Bright ordered the demolition of parts of a TDC infilling project in Community One, asserting that the assembly holds exclusive statutory power over physical developments. In contrast, TDC Managing Director Courage Nunekpeku argued that the company has traditionally operated under government exemptions and criticized the TMA for acting before a seven-day response period had expired. The Tema Traditional Council has since intervened, calling for dialogue to resolve the impasse over land designated for public amenities like playgrounds.

Financial tensions are also surfacing at the sub-district level, highlighted by a threat from members of the Ho Zonal Council to walk out of General Assembly meetings. The council is protesting the Ho Municipal Assembly’s failure to transfer GHS 119,000 in due commissions, which has stalled local development projects. Chairman Emmanuel Adzome expressed frustration that lucrative revenue points are being assigned to private collectors rather than the Zonal Council, undermining their financial viability. Although Municipal Chief Executive Stephen Adom has called for patience, the dispute underscores the broader struggle for fiscal autonomy and resource allocation within the local government framework.

Amidst these frictions, there are signs of progress in administrative efficiency and urban collaboration. The District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is set to release second-quarter transfers this week to all compliant assemblies, with Administrator Michael Harry Yamson stressing that four non-compliant districts must meet reporting requirements to access their funds. Simultaneously, in Kumasi, Mayor Richard Kwasi Ofori Boadi Agyemang is championing a new partnership with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to tackle urban challenges like waste management and traffic congestion. These developments suggest that while the path to full decentralization remains fraught with legal and financial hurdles, regional initiatives and institutional reforms continue to push for a more accountable and self-sustaining local government system.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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Minister Haruna Iddrisu Backs Elective MMDCEs as Local Governance Disputes and Funding Challenges Mount

More from politics

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Ghana Rejects South African Evacuation Bill Amid Regional Shifts and US Political Transition