Mahama Ayariga confident of fixing Ghana’s local government system within tenure

Ghana's Minister for Local Government, Mahama Ayariga, is confident that his administration has sufficient time to tackle the significant issues facing the country's local government system. During an interview on Citi FM, Mr Ayariga stated that many of the challenges facing the system are primarily organizational rather than due to a lack of resources, and can be resolved through improved leadership, better coordination, and more efficient use of existing resources.

Expressing his belief in the importance of addressing these issues, Mr Ayariga highlighted his experience in government as a key asset in his ability to collaborate effectively with regional ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to enhance local governance. He emphasized that even though his tenure remains only a few years, it is ample time to establish a solid foundation for reform.

A central focus of Mr Ayariga's administration will be to strengthen local government, which he believes is crucial for regaining public trust in the government. Given that citizens interact most frequently with local authorities, improving coordination among these entities and ensuring the effective utilization of resources to address challenges and boost service delivery will be prioritized.

Mr Ayariga is convinced that improvements in resource management, combined with stronger leadership at the local level, could bring about considerable advancements in local government performance within the remaining period of his administration.