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

Mr. Faharudeen said the policy was a step in the right direction and would help prevent wastage and promote financial discipline at the local government level.

He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that all assemblies could cover their electricity costs since they generate their internal revenue through fees, licenses, property rates, and other local charges. He said that using part of these funds to pay for utilities would improve accountability and ensure that resources are properly managed.

He added that the policy should not be seen as a punishment but rather as an opportunity for the assemblies to take ownership of their expenditure. He explained that when institutions do not directly feel the cost of the resources they use, there is often waste and mismanagement.

“The wastage at the assemblies is high; some people may put on their air-conditioning and then go home because it’s government property. Sometimes they see issues like water leakages and don’t attend to them,” he stated.

The former PNC executive also called on assembly members and officials to embrace the policy and work towards more efficient management of public resources, urging them to view the directive not as a cost but as a way to gain greater control over their operations.

He noted that some smaller districts may face initial challenges and would need guidance to implement the new policy. He also gave assurance that the government could subsidize assemblies that might find it difficult to pay, to reduce pressure on the national budget and encourage a culture of responsibility and efficiency at the local level.

Mr. Faharudeen commended the government for giving allowances to assembly members to boost their participation in local governance, noting that, “It is going to motivate them to work harder and increase their activeness.”

“I believe if every Assemblyman is given a motorbike to carry him from his home to his assembly, it would help in addition to giving them the allowances,” he said.

The new policy, announced by Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, requires MMDAs to take full responsibility for their utility bills.

This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce the financial burden on the central government and encourage better financial management among local authorities.