Correspondence from Bono Region

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has announced that the government will allocate five percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to support spatial planning activities across Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) starting next year.

The minister made this pledge at the maiden National Dialogue on Decentralisation and Responsive Governance forum in Accra, following a strong appeal from the National President of the Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners, Planner Gifty Nyarko, who is also the African Ambassador for Inclusive Urban Governance and Climate-Resilient Development.

Planner Gifty Nyarko had emphasised the urgent need for intervention, noting that many MMDAs continue to neglect spatial planning in their development priorities. She emphasised the crucial role of spatial planning in managing urban growth, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability, urging the Ministry to provide targeted support to enhance the sector.

In response, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to evidence-based planning, stressing that the five percent allocation would enhance the capacity of MMDAs by providing tools, data systems, and human resources needed to implement orderly and climate-resilient development frameworks.

Whilst urging the various assemblies to use part of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) in the interim to support spatial planning activities while awaiting the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the minister also appealed to local authorities to fast-track permit acquisition processes to curb unauthorised developments that undermine effective land use and infrastructure coordination.

He reaffirmed the government’s broader “Reset” agenda to strengthen decentralisation, assuring stakeholders that the move reflects a deliberate effort to equip local governments with the tools and resources needed to manage development proactively and inclusively.

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