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2025-2028 ZONAL BUDGET HEARRINGS FOR GREATER ACCRA ZONE 7 ASSEMBLIES (MMDAs) HELD @ GA WEST

28.Oct.2024

In line with Regulation 17(3) of the Public Financial Management Regulation ,2019, LI 2378 as well as paragraph 157 of the 2025-2028 Budget Preparation guidelines, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council has organized a Zonal Budget Hearings for Zone 7 Assemblies. The Regional Budget Hearings are being organized for all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) from Tuesday 22nd to Friday, 25th October 2024.

The Hearings which took place on Thursday, 24th October at the Ga West Municipal Assembly Hall, Amasaman was held for members of Zone 7 Assemblies which comprise of Ga West, Ga North, Ayawaso Central and Okaikwei North Municipal Assemblies. The purpose of gathering was to review the 2024 budgets of the 4 Municipal Assemblies and work towards the preparation of the 2025 budgets. The Greater Accra Regional Budget Analyst, Mr. Sammy-Lee Simpiney, said budgets are formulated to guide MMDAs in their resource mobilization and to ensure prudent utilization of their financial resources. He further stated that in the course of the presentation, the Panel members from the Ministry of Finance and the Regional Coordinating Council will review the budgets and make recommendations. He urged Officials of the participating Assemblies to take the recommendations seriously and ensure to factor the recommendations in their budgets before their Assemblies approve the budgets. Ga West Municipal Assembly was to present first followed by Ayawaso Central, then Ga North and lastly Okaikwei North Municipal Assemblies respectively.

The Municipal Budget Officer, Madam Mary A. Acquah presented the budget for Ga West Municipal. She said that the Municipal has a population of 168, 753 males and 174, 897 females with a population growth rate of 2.1%. In her presentation, she outlined the adopted policies of the Assembly as deepening political administration, strengthening physical decentralization, inclusive education at all levels, maintaining quality, reliable and resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable and balanced development, equitable accessibility to healthcare, modernized agriculture and improve sanitation conditions in the municipality. She reiterated that their budget seeks to address all these policies. On challenges, she outlined that the Ga West Municipal Assembly has boundary disputes, difficulty in development control, loss of Agricultural lands to Estate developers, inadequate social infrastructure, poor road networks and lack of final disposal sites. On IGF performance, the Assembly derives IGF from property rates, basic rates, fees, fines, licenses, land, rents and royalties. Out of GH¢ 7,800,000 budgeted to be generated by the Assembly in 2024, the Assembly has generated GH¢ 6,700,000 as at September which represent 85%. On compensation, the Assembly has received GH¢ 4,800,000 out of GH¢ 9,800,000 which is 49% as at September. The Assembly has not received anything for Goods and Services, GH¢ 71,000 out of GH¢ 200,000 on the District Assemblies Common Fund, GH¢ 600,000 of MP Common Fund done bringing their total revenue for 2024 as at September to GH¢ 15,600,000 as against GH¢ 22,400,000 which is about 69%. For expenditure, GH¢ 7,800,000 with 85% under IGF. The budget also highlighted on key projects undertaken by the Assembly includng Agricultural projects, and trainings organized by the Business Advisory Center.

On concerns raised at the Ga West Budget presentation, panel said 14 sanitary offenders prosecuted by the Assembly from January to September is inadequate. The Head of Environmental responded that there are several other cases in the process of prosecution. A concern was raised on why the District Road Improvement Program(DRIP) Equipment is not in use since the Assembly has a lot of poor road network and it is a good intervention that some MMDAs are putting into good use. The Municipal Works Engineer, Mr. Eric J. Donkor responded that the Assembly received our DRIP not long ago and was unveiled on 8th October 2024 and they have started using it.  The Assembly was also asked to address how the District Road Improvement Program Equipment would be put into use in the 2025 budget. The Assembly was also asked to explain how they are addressing their challenge of loss of Agriculture lands. In response, The Director of Agriculture, Madam Angelina Owusu Ansah said, they encourage farmers to purchase their lands to avoid losing it to Estate Developers. They also urge farmers to go into farming activities whch require a small land space like mushroom farming, rabbit rearing.

The Assembly was also asked to explain how they are going to meet their 2024 target since the year has almost ended. The Municipal Finance Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ablor assured panel that the Assembly will exceed target by the close of November.

They were also asked to state in their budget how they were able to finance goods and services since there has been no release to that effect from the Government. Locations of all projects too are to be outlined.

 

Present at the Hearing were the Municipal Chief Executive Officer for Ga West, Honorable Clement Wilkison, Municipal Coordinating Director(MCD) for Ga West, Mr. Isaac Kwakye, the Presiding Member(PM) for Ga West, Honorable Daniel Owusu Asumadu, MCD for Ga North, Madam Emilia Osaadu, MCD for Ayawaso Central, Mr. Ishmael Nanu Ogyafo, Presiding Member for Ayawaso Central, Mr. Hudu Ismail, MCD for Okaikwei North, MR. Francis Mensah, PM for Okaikwwei North Mr. Abdullai Nii Odai, Also present were Budget Officers from all 4 Municipalities, Departmental Heads and Administrative Officials.

All 4 Assemblies presented their budgets which were well reviewed. Mr. Simpiney said bringing the 4 Assemblies together to review their budgets creates room for them to learn from each other towards executing excellence service delivery. In the closing remarks, the MCD for Okaikwei North, Mr. Francis Mensah expressed appreciation to all Presiding Members, Directors and Officials present. He commended the Ga West Municipal Assembly for hosting the hearings. He thanked the Regional Coordinating Council, Ministry of Finance Staff and all other Officials present.

 

Source: Rachel Sarpong, Municipal Information Officer, ISD,GWMA.