The LI seeks to also carve some municipalities from other assemblies, and also elevate some existing districts to municipality status.

The infographics below capture features of a Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, as specified in Ghana’s Local Government Act.

In terms of population, for instance, a Metropolitan Assembly is expected to have over 250, 000 people living within its jurisdiction.

Municipalities are supposed to have a population size of about 95,000, whilst about 75,000 are expected within a district.

A Metropolitan, which is the biggest among the assemblies, also has 16 departments, Municipal, 13 and districts 11.

Below are the infographics summarizing the features of the MMDAs:

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Melvin Clottey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The program was under its Ghana Strengthening and Accountability Mechanisms Project, which seeks to empower communities to demand a judicious use of resources for development at the district level.

The project, is aimed at increasing social inclusion and accountability of citizens in the planning and budgeting processes of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), to enable communities hold duty bearers accountable for their stewardship.

Mr. Asante Gilbert, Country team leader of MAP International in his address, said the initiative started in 2015, and is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to bridge the gap between citizens and district assemblies.

According to him, community monitors would be expected to lead their communities to engage with the assemblies on the efficient use of their resources for capital projects by the end of the project in 2019.

He said politicization of issues of empowerment and community mobilization was a major challenge most community members faced.

The District Planning Officer, James Atta-Era, said for any intervention to achieve its desired results, social accountability must be promoted through citizen participation at all levels of planning and execution of projects.

He disclosed his outfit will soon commission a data collection process to draw new development plan for the district for 2018-2021, and appealed to the community monitors to use their acquired skills to assist the assembly come with a holistic and sustainable plan for the area.

Mr. Daniel Owusu, District Budget Analyst on his part, called for close collaboration among stakeholders to reduce waste and promote efficiency in service delivery.

He urged traditional leaders and community members to show more interest in the work and operation of the assemblies to check misuse of their resources.

MAP International Ghana is a Christian health organization that partners with institutions and people living in conditions of poverty to save lives and develop healthier families and communities.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The meeting was among other things to consider the 2017 Composite Budget and Fee Fixing Resolution for approval.

Addressing assembly members, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mohammed Ibn Abass emphasized the activities of the district in the areas of security, finances and programmmes implemented by the assembly.

On security the DCE said there has been relative peace and stability in the district and that the District Security Council (DISEC) will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the Bimbilla Chieftaincy dispute.

He expressed his excitement that the situation in the area continues to improve and hopes that a sustained and improved peace in the area will eventually lead to the lifting of a curfew that has been placed on the district for some months now.

“The District Security Council (DISEC) continue to be on its toes and will collaborate with various stakeholders like Regional Security Council ( REGSEC) and the Yendi Diocesan Peace Centre of the Catholic church and other interest groups in a bit to finding a lasting solution to the Bimbilla chieftaincy misunderstanding,” he said.

He added that “I want to urge all assembly members to endeavour to engage with people to appreciate the fact that it is only in peace that we can realize and achieve meaningful development in the district and improvement in the lives of our people. As you know the expenditure on the maintenance of peace is having a heavy toll on the Assembly.”

On finances, the DCE said the district had received some GH₵ 446,364.46 as its share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) for the first quarter of 2016 and also realized an amount of GH₵ 272,463.00 as internally generated funds (IGF).

The amount represented an 87% increase in the annual estimated revenue for the year 2016.

He said the assembly was able to pay the ex-gratia allowances of members of the last assembly from the internally generated funds and other projects in the district are at various levels of completion.

On the impending general elections, the DCE admonished members of the community to tolerate divergent views and opinions to avoid violence in the upcoming elections.

“I want to take this opportunity to admonish all that let us in our various capacities as Assembly members caution people to tolerate divergent views and opinions and avoid violence in the upcoming elections. The district is already battling with the Bimbilla Chieftaincy conflict and nothing should be done to worsen the already fragile security situation,” he noted.

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By: Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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