A seven-member committee set up by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has recommended the elevation of 33 districts and municipalities across the country to higher administrative status.

The committee, chaired by the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, proposed that 20 districts be upgraded to municipal status, 12 municipalities elevated to metropolitan status, and one district upgraded directly to a metropolitan assembly.

Presenting the committee’s report to the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, at a brief ceremony in Accra on Monday, Mr Nketia urged the Ministry to provide adequate funding to support development in the affected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

He explained that some of the proposed elevations were initiated through stakeholder requests, while others were recommended by the Ministry after assessing the developmental needs of specific assemblies.

“And so we put all this together, and as part of our assignment we had the liberty to undertake field visits whenever necessary. I want to report that it was only on one occasion that it became necessary for us to conduct a field visit, and that was to Ketu South.’’

“We have attached a mini report of the visit. It was a big eye-opener to the committee in the discharge of our responsibilities. I want to thank my committee members for their cooperation and hard work,” Mr Nketia said.

He noted that the committee discovered that some MMDAs were facing development deficits due to inadequate funding.

It therefore recommended that the Ministry develop a three-year plan and provide seed funding to support rapid infrastructure and socio-economic development in upgraded districts.

Mr Nketia further observed that some districts previously upgraded to municipal status existed as municipalities only on paper, as they still exhibited features of districts due to limited infrastructure development.

“The Committee has recommended that the Ministry consider preparing a standard manual to guide future upgrades and develop a strategic plan to address the needs of districts. It should also designate special development enclaves to promote investment, growth and development,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim, on his part, thanked the committee for submitting its report ahead of schedule. He noted that although the committee was given eight weeks to complete its work, it delivered its findings within six weeks.

He pledged that the report would be submitted to the President for consideration and assured that the recommendations would be given serious attention.