Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has warned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that they can no longer blame Ghana’s sanitation problems on the absence of a dedicated sanitation authority.

Ayariga said the 261 MMDAs already have the legal mandate, funding sources and enforcement powers needed to keep their respective jurisdictions clean.

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According to him, the assemblies have the authority to employ sanitation workers, impose property and sanitation rates, enforce bylaws and use resources from the District Assemblies Common Fund and internally generated funds to deal with sanitation challenges.

Speaking on Citi FM on Thursday, September 10, 2026, the Minister said MMDAs were the institutions directly responsible for maintaining sanitation in their jurisdictions.

“You are the authority. You are managing this geographical space. And yours is to make sure that it is clean. There is no vacuum in terms of institutions,” he said.

Ayariga expressed concern that some assemblies had failed to act despite having the necessary powers and resources.

“They have just refused to work, and they have refused to work in some instances because nobody is pushing them to work. And my job as minister is to push them to work. I will do that,” he said.

He said he would put pressure on the assemblies to take their sanitation responsibilities seriously and ensure that residents get cleaner and healthier communities.

The Minister said the government was still open to proposals for the establishment of a separate sanitation authority.

However, he stressed that such an institution should not become an excuse for MMDAs to abandon responsibilities already assigned to them by law.

NA/BAI