Accra: Mr Yakubu Faharudeen, the former Acting General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), has endorsed the government’s decision to make Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) responsible for paying their electricity bills.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Faharudeen described the policy as a step that would help prevent wastage and promote financial discipline at the local government level. He explained that all assemblies could manage their electricity costs since they generated their internal revenue through fees, licenses, property rates, and other local charges. Utilizing part of these funds for utility payments would improve accountability and ensure efficient resource management.

Mr Faharudeen emphasized that the policy should be viewed as an opportunity for the assemblies to take ownership of their expenditure. He pointed out that when institutions do not directly feel the cost of the resources they use, waste and mismanagement often occur. He highlighted examples such as leaving air-conditioning on when not needed and ignoring water leakages.

The former PNC executive urged assembly members and officials to embrace the policy for more efficient management of public resources, encouraging them to see it as a way to gain greater control over their operations. He acknowledged that some smaller districts might face initial challenges and suggested that the government could subsidize those assemblies to reduce pressure on the national budget and foster responsibility and efficiency at the local level.

Mr Faharudeen also commended the government for providing allowances to assembly members to enhance their participation in local governance. He mentioned that providing motorbikes could further motivate assemblymen by facilitating transportation to their assemblies.

The new policy, announced by Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, mandates MMDAs to take full responsibility for their utility bills. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce the financial burden on the central government and encourage better financial management among local authorities.