MMDCEs get more money than MPs – Queenstar Sawyerr

Chairperson of Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee, Queenstar Maame Pokuah Sawyerr, says Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are no longer competing with Members of Parliament (MPs) for political power.

She attributed this change to the substantial funds now flowing directly to the local assemblies under President John Dramani Mahama’s government.

Speaking after a public hearing of Audit Report Statements of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) from the Middle and Northern zones, Ms. Sawyerr said her committee had observed improved cooperation between MMDCEs and MPs. She described this as a positive shift that fosters unity and enhances local development.

According to her, the financial strength of the MMDAs has significantly reduced the political tension that used to exist between MMDCEs and MPs. “They get more money than the MPs, so the issue of MMDCEs eyeing the seats of MPs is no longer an issue,” she stated.

Ms. Sawyerr explained that in the past, Assemblies faced delays in receiving their statutory allocations, leaving many of them indebted. However, she said the current administration has prioritized decentralization by ensuring that more funds are released directly to the Assemblies for their development projects.

She added that some MMDAs are now generating substantial internal revenue, which calls for stronger financial oversight. “Some of the MMDAs are able to raise huge sums internally, so if our eyes are not on them, they could be tempted to mismanage funds. That’s why there is now a roadmap and strict guidelines to ensure accountability,” she noted.

The Committee Chair further commended President Mahama’s directive to focus on completing uncompleted or abandoned projects across the country. She said the President has charged MMDCEs to ensure continuity by completing legacy projects started under previous administrations instead of abandoning them for new ones.

“The President has given more money to be used for legacy projects. Since the time of Kwame Nkrumah, many projects have been left uncompleted, but President Mahama has made it clear that all inherited projects must be finished. By the end of his tenure, there should be no abandoned projects,” Ms. Sawyerr emphasized.

She assured that her committee will continue to work closely with the Assemblies to strengthen local governance, promote accountability, and ensure that the resources allocated to MMDAs are used effectively to benefit the public.