Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has disclosed that numerous agencies operating at the District Assembly level operate independently without reporting to the Assembly.
He noted that these agencies often have officers who report directly to officials in the capital, Accra, rather than to the District Chief Executive, resulting in a form of partial administrative decentralization.
Addressing this issue on Joy FM, Oppong Nkrumah emphasized that this setup raises concerns about the ability of these agencies to integrate into the local government structure and effectively address local issues.
He underscored that this scenario exemplifies the administrative decentralization highlighted by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
These remarks from the Information Minister come in the wake of statements made by Dr. Bawumia, the 2024 flagbearer of the NPP, during a national address at the UPSA auditorium in Accra.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized the importance of bolstering the role of the private sector, advocating for fiscal and administrative decentralization, and enhancing system functionality and institutional performance.
He asserted that these measures would not only enhance efficiency but also ensure value for money in government procurement processes.
Dr. Bawumia articulated plans to alleviate the fiscal burden on the government by building upon successful initiatives like Free SHS and Free TVET introduced during Nana Akufo-Addo’s tenure.
Responding to this, Oppong Nkrumah explained that the policies proposed by a Bawumia-led administration would address issues of insufficient funding and low revenues at the District Assembly level.
He highlighted Bawumia’s active efforts in allocating parts of the infrastructure budget to lower-level infrastructure, a departure from the current regime’s approach.
Oppong Nkrumah emphasized the distinctions between the ongoing initiatives and the prospective strategies under a Bawumia-led administration set to begin on January 7, 2025.