Innovate in revenue mobilisation - Greater Accra Regional Minister urges assemblies

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has called on metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the region to adopt digital and cashless platforms for revenue collection.

She said that would enhance the transparency and accountability of internally generated funds (IGF) in their operations.

She made the call at the first Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) meeting last Thursday in Accra.

The meeting brought together MMDCEs, presiding members, traditional leaders, heads of decentralised departments and development partners.

IGF

The minister emphasised the pivotal role of IGF in supporting development projects, stressing that without adequate internal revenue, the region’s development efforts would remain constrained.

“Records from this office indicate that as at the end of the first quarter of 2025, all MMDAs in the region had mobilised over GH¢80 million, representing 23 per cent of the region’s total budget for the year,” she said.

The Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly emerged as the highest performer, having raised GH¢8.4 million, which represents 38.5 per cent of its budget.

In contrast, Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly recorded the lowest with GH¢316,643.66, representing 19.8 per cent of its budget, she said.

Mrs Ocloo said the IGF was complemented by transfers from central government, including the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

She revealed that the first-quarter DACF allocation was ready to be released, pending the submission of the approved 2025 budget and work plans by the assemblies.

“We are aware that MMDAs are going to receive more than 80 per cent of such revenue released to the Administrator for projects and other developmental needs. I urge all of you to stick to the guidelines approved by Cabinet for the utilisation of the DACF,” she said.

Mrs Ocloo also indicated that the RCC will actively monitor the receipt and use of DACF funds, in line with the government’s guidelines to ensure their judicious use under the President’s reset agenda.

Project

Speaking on project implementation, the minister disclosed that out of 372 projects being executed across the region, 207 had been completed, although some still had outstanding debts.

The remaining 165 projects were either ongoing or had been abandoned. 

She encouraged assemblies to prioritise completing existing projects before embarking on new ones.

On sanitation, the minister decried the poor state of waste management in the region, citing open defecation, indiscriminate dumping, and choked drains as persistent challenges.

She called for stricter enforcement of sanitation by-laws, increased public education, and more collaboration with the private sector.

“Sanitation would now serve as a key performance indicator (KPI) for all MMDCEs”, she said.

Flood

The minister also addressed flood management, highlighting the region’s vulnerability due to its low-lying topography.

She said the RCC was working with the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project to undertake regular clearing of drains, demolish illegal structures near waterways, and enforce planning regulations.

The minister also emphasised the under-resourcing of sub-district structures such as urban, town, and zonal councils. She said these structures play a critical role in the assemblies and must be strengthened to function beyond revenue collection roles.

Assemblies were reminded of the June 30, 2025, deadline for submission of the 2026–2029 Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) to the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).