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Sunday, 13 September 2026
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Sunday, 13 September 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies

Also known as: Metropolitan

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies — local government bodies responsible for sanitation, development projects, and service delivery across Ghana's 261 jurisdictions.

2026-04-282026-09-13

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026
  2. Joy Online

    The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has rejected claims that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are responsible for the failure to desilt major storm drains, insisting that the responsibility lies with t

    Urban Roads, not MMDCEs, responsible for desilting major drains – Local Gov’t minister
  3. Joy Online

    Dr Siaw Agyepong said Zoomlion, working with the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and other stakeholders, had significantly expanded its operations across the Greater Accra Region.

    Mahama directs activation of Zoomlion transfer stations to improve waste collection after floods
  4. Joy Online

    He pointed to the role of law enforcement agencies and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), saying these bodies must be empowered and held accountable for ensuring compliance.

    Ghana does not lack laws, flood crisis requires enforcement – Akwatia MP
  5. Joy Online

    Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, July 11, Mr Mercer said the government had ample warning ahead of the rainy season but failed to organise nationwide clean-up exercises or release funds to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to desilt drains.

    Why wait for deaths and losses before a clean-up charade? – Egyapa Mercer questions gov’t
  6. Joy Online

    e, Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, has urged the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, to reconsider the decision to terminate Zoomlion Ghana Limited’s waste management contract, arguing that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies

    Reconsider termination of Zoomlion contract; assemblies are not ready to take over – Nitiwul tells Local Gov’t Minister
  7. Joy Online

    Paragraph 139 of the Ministry of Finance’s Budget Preparation Guidelines and Section 30 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) leave no room for interpretation: Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) must commit at least 20 per cent of their Inter

    GH¢18.8 million in development money, vanished
  8. Joy Online

    The Association also directed its Regional, District and Municipal executives to work closely with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), security agencies, institutional heads and waste management teams to ensure effective mobilisation for the exercise.

    NASPAA urges national service personnel to join two-day flood cleanup exercise
  9. Joy Online

    Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr Adu Asare said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have focused mainly on issuing stop-work notices to developers instead of implementing comprehensive planning measures for communities.

    Poor leadership, weak planning fuelling Accra floods – Kojo Adu Asare
  10. Joy Online

    President John Dramani Mahama has proposed a stronger partnership between traditional authorities and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to improve accountability and ensure effective implementation of development projects.

    Mahama proposes greater role for chiefs in monitoring district development projects
  11. Joy Online

    According to him, although Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have engaged registered waste management companies to provide sanitation services, many residents continue to rely on Aboboya operators because their services are cheaper.

    Public preference for cheap Aboboya services worsening waste management crisis – Chamber for Local Governance

Thursday 10 September

  1. Minister vows to pressure MMDAs on sanitation responsibility

    Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga pledged to push Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to take full responsibility for sanitation in their jurisdictions, noting that the 261 assemblies already have legal authority, funding sources and enforcement powers to manage sanitation without excuses for inaction.

    10 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Central Regional Minister praises Gomoa Central Assembly fund use

    The Central Regional Minister commended Gomoa Central District Assembly for effectively utilising its 20 per cent Common Fund to complete legacy projects in health, education and other development areas. Funds for the first and second quarters of 2026 have been released to district assemblies to support projects in health, education, roads, water and other development areas.

    10 September 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 2 September

  1. Government shifts waste financing from public funds to rates

    The Minister of Local Government announced that waste management will no longer be financed through public funds; instead, sanitation rates owed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies will be paid and utilised. The Ghanaian Times supports this shift, arguing that households, businesses and property owners should pay for the waste they generate rather than relying on government subsidies.

    2 September 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Thursday 27 August

  1. Zoomlion launches week-long disinfection drive across Upper East

    Zoomlion Ghana Limited has begun a week-long disinfection and disinfestation exercise across all 15 municipalities and districts in the Upper East Region to prevent disease outbreaks during the rainy season, targeting public spaces and sanitation facilities including public toilets, markets, schools, and health facilities.

    27 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Zoomlion intensifies sanitation exercise across Ahafo Region

    Zoomlion Ghana Limited, in collaboration with MMDAs in the Ahafo Region, has stepped up disinfection and disinfestation activities targeting public facilities including markets, schools, public toilets, and dumpsites to improve environmental sanitation and protect public health.

    27 August 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Political transitions and weak capacity undermine Ghana's decentralisation efforts

    Professor Joseph Atsu Ayee says frequent changes in political leadership and weak institutional capacity at MMDAs have disrupted decentralisation implementation and made local governance less responsive, despite legal frameworks being in place. He called for constitutional reforms to strengthen MMDA autonomy, accountability and effectiveness.

    27 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Post-flood disinfection crucial to prevent disease outbreaks

    The Municipal Environmental Health Officer for Ayawaso North has stressed that post-flood disinfection and disinfestation exercises are vital to prevent disease outbreaks, noting that floodwaters carry contaminated material from public toilets, septic tanks, drains and waste sites. Zoomlion Ghana Limited is conducting a regional disinfection programme across Greater Accra in partnership with local assemblies to reduce disease-causing organisms, flies, mosquitoes and other health threats.

    25 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Friday 21 August

  1. Post-flood disinfection crucial to prevent disease outbreaks

    The Municipal Environmental Health Officer for Ayawaso North in Greater Accra has emphasized the importance of post-flood disinfection and disinfestation to protect public health, noting that floodwaters pass through contaminated areas before spreading into communities. Zoomlion Ghana Limited is conducting disinfection exercises across Greater Accra in partnership with local assemblies following recent flooding, targeting disease-causing organisms and disease vectors.

    21 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Unplanned urban sprawl drives flooding, food insecurity in Ghana

    A KNUST planning researcher argues Ghana must adopt compact urban development and strengthen land-use planning to address perennial flooding, uncontrolled sprawl, and rising infrastructure costs caused by largely unplanned horizontal expansion that converts agricultural lands and wetlands into residential areas.

    18 August 2026 · The Chronicle

  2. Auditor-General reports show US$19.96 billion in irregularities

    A database of 65 Auditor-General reports from 2010 to 2025 across five audit streams shows Ghana flagged a combined US$19.96 billion (GH¢129.8 billion) in financial irregularities in public accounts, with the NPP accounting for $16.22 billion across 40 reports and the NDC for $3.74 billion.

    18 August 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 13 August

  1. Only 28% of micro enterprises transition to medium scale

    A study of 600 Ghanaian businesses by the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation found that 28.2 per cent of micro enterprises surveyed transitioned fully to medium scale, while 44.64 per cent moved to small enterprise status. The research attributed the low transition rates to structural, financial and regulatory barriers, including multiple compliance layers and licensing requirements that discouraged expansion.

    13 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 7 August

  1. NALAG president urges MMDAs to deliver visible development

    The President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana has warned that local government officials risk losing public confidence if they fail to deliver visible development and accountable leadership. Citizens now expect tangible improvements in roads, sanitation, healthcare, education and other services rather than political promises.

    7 August 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 6 August

  1. Asantehene urges RCC Chief Directors to strengthen decentralisation policy

    The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has told Chief Directors of Regional Coordinating Councils that the success of Ghana's decentralisation policy depends on them, as they coordinate Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and must translate government policies into visible improvements in water, electricity, and roads for citizens.

    6 August 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 5 August

  1. Environmental group warns government to protect road reservations nationwide

    Friends of Rivers and Waterbodies has urged the government to take urgent steps to protect road reservations across the country, warning that widespread encroachment by developers and informal traders is increasing infrastructure costs and threatening sustainable urban planning. The group's president stated that encroachment is happening nationwide, with structures being built on spaces designated for utilities, pedestrian walkways, drainage systems, and future expansion.

    5 August 2026 · The Chronicle

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Oforikrom Assembly resumes abandoned projects with DACF funds

    The Oforikrom Municipal Assembly has assumed control of several abandoned development projects, allocating 20 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund to their completion. The projects, including a municipal administration block, court complex, and public facilities, had stalled due to delayed central government payments under the previous administration.

    4 August 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 3 August

  1. NACSA partners with local assemblies on gun violence prevention

    The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) has intensified engagement with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to strengthen community-based approaches to preventing armed violence. NACSA conducted sensitisation programmes in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and Asuogyaman District focusing on illicit small arms proliferation, Ghana's firearms regulatory framework, and the role of elected representatives in promoting responsible firearm ownership and preventing violence.

    3 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Zoomlion pledges to pay MMDA fumigation workers' salary arrears

    Zoomlion Ghana Limited has assured workers under the MMDA Fumigation Project that outstanding salary arrears will be paid once the company receives necessary funds, attributing delays to late release of project funds and saying the situation is exceptional in its 15-year record of consistent payments.

    3 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Ghana launches 10-year urban policy and slum upgrade strategy

    The government launched the National Urban Policy (2026–2035) and National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy (2026–2035) to address flooding, housing shortages, congestion and unplanned settlements. A review of the previous urban policy, introduced in 2012, showed implementation reached only about 50 per cent of its intended outcomes, with gaps in affordable housing, urban financing, research, data systems and institutional coordination.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

Sunday 26 July

  1. Vice President meets Ghanaian diaspora in Maryland

    Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang engaged with Ghanaians in Potomac, Maryland, acknowledging their role in the national economy. She highlighted the government's efforts to stabilise macroeconomic conditions, citing improved economic growth, eased inflation, and currency stability.

    26 July 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 24 July

  1. Government should invest in livelihood-transforming projects, Osei Asare urges

    Atiwa East MP Abena Osei Asare has called on the government to redirect public funds toward projects with direct impact on people's lives rather than simply spending money. She said government officials should engage with citizens directly, noting that official economic figures do not reflect the realities facing ordinary Ghanaians.

    24 July 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Minister urges local assemblies to lead climate action in Upper West

    The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability has warned that erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and failing crops in the Upper West Region threaten livelihoods and human survival, urging Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to take the lead in climate adaptation and mitigation projects. The Upper West Regional Minister challenged district leaders to integrate climate action into their development plans and budgets as an economic and governance emergency.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Ghana's politicians exploit disasters for political gain

    A Joy Online opinion piece argues that in Ghana, disasters are often treated as political opportunities rather than investigations into systemic failures, with politicians using scenes of sympathy and relief distribution to generate goodwill while underlying causes of floods, fires, and collapses remain unresolved.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 17 July

  1. Energy Commission trains local government officers on building efficiency

    The Energy Commission has completed a nationwide capacity-building programme for local government officers aimed at integrating energy efficiency requirements into Ghana's building permit and development control processes. The programme, supported by UNEP and the Ministry of Local Government, equipped participants from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to serve as Energy Efficiency Champions within their respective assemblies.

    17 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Energy Commission trains local government officers on efficient building permits

    The Energy Commission has concluded a nationwide training programme for local government officers aimed at integrating energy efficiency requirements into Ghana's building permit and development control processes. The training, supported by UNEP and the Ministry of Local Government, equipped participants to serve as Energy Efficiency Champions within their respective assemblies.

    17 July 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 16 July

  1. CLGA urges MMDAs to act on 2025 PFM compliance results

    The Center for Local Governance Advocacy has called on all 261 MMDAs to review their 2025 Public Financial Management Compliance League Table results and implement time-bound improvement plans. The 2025 assessment recorded a national compliance score of 56.20%, exceeding the 50% benchmark, with coverage improving to 100% across all 16 regions.

    16 July 2026 · Daily Guide

Wednesday 15 July

  1. Environmental health group seeks independent regulatory council

    Ghana Environmental Health Practitioners Association has called for an Environmental Health Council to regulate professional standards, licensing, accreditation and ethics within the profession. The Association also urged government to strengthen the environmental health workforce by recruiting and deploying qualified graduates to address staffing shortages across Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

    15 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Ghana needs $37.2 billion yearly for infrastructure, World Bank finds

    A World Bank report on sustainable cities in Ghana finds the country requires an estimated $37.2 billion annually to fund infrastructure needs in energy, telecommunications, transport, and water—a gap that exceeds current government capital expenditure by almost 40 times—raising concerns about accommodating rapid urban growth and sustaining economic development.

    15 July 2026 · The Chronicle

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Ghana's flood crisis reflects coordination gaps across institutions

    Flooding in Greater Accra has cost over GHS 6.3 billion between 2015 and 2025, with damage to SMEs, public infrastructure, and residential property, while Ghana loses an estimated USD 200 million annually to natural disasters. The article argues that the persistence of these losses demonstrates flooding is fundamentally a governance challenge requiring coordinated institutional action rather than merely an environmental problem.

    14 July 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 13 July

  1. Ghana's flood management hampered by divided institutional mandates

    Flooding in Ghana's Greater Accra Metropolitan Area has become a recurring governance crisis, causing economic losses exceeding GHS 6.3 billion between 2015 and 2025, with damages to SMEs, public infrastructure, and residential property. The article examines how fragmented institutional responsibilities undermine coordinated flood management responses.

    13 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Ghana's flood governance crisis: institutional fragmentation worsens urban disasters

    Urban flooding in Ghana, particularly Greater Accra, has become a persistent governance crisis rather than a seasonal event. Between 2015 and 2025, flooding in Greater Accra caused economic losses exceeding GH₵ 6.3 billion, with the article arguing that fragmented institutional mandates and lack of coordinated action perpetuate the problem.

    13 July 2026 · Joy Online

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute