The Director for the Institute of Local Government Studies is questioning the rationale behind the Akufo-Addo government’s creation of the Sanitation Ministry.
Dr Nicholas Awortwi insists the creation of the Ministry defeats the purpose of decentralisation.
According to him, the creation of the Ministry only shows how far the central government is willing to go to keep powers at the top hierarchy.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra Monday, he said, “We currently have a broken local government system that has failed to deliver basic services like sanitation.
“The fact that we have a Ministry of Sanitation is an indictment of the basis of decentralisation in the local government.”
Water and sanitation services for the first time, got the attention from central government after it took step to prioritise the sector with the creation of the Water and Sanitation Ministry.
Presenting the second batch of 12-ministerial appointees after being sworn into office in January 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the new Ministry for Sanitation and Water Resources among others.
He also named Joseph Kofi Adda, an MP for Navrongo as the Minister.
According to the president, the decision to respectively split water and sanitation from the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development stemmed from the neglect of the sub-sectors.
This, the ILGS Director disagrees.
According to him, it tells of “the interest of central government politicians to keep power still at the top and to keep the resources still at the top.”
“So if we have 260 local governments that cannot deliver sanitation and the whole Ministry is created, it tells you the interest of central government politicians and bureaucrats, and if the system is not working it has to be repaired or it has to be fixed; if the system is broken then currently, the local government system is broken,” he stated.
Latest Stories
-
Wa Naa appeals to Akufo-Addo to audit state lands in Wa
11 mins -
5 secret ways people use ‘I love you’ as a form of manipulation
17 mins -
The most important question to ask yourself
27 mins -
Department of social welfare sensitises residents of Nabdam on child protection
30 mins -
Ghanaians must assess the quality of political leaders presented – Asah-Asante
43 mins -
Ashanti Regional Minister demands withdrawal of ‘fraudulent ECG bills’ sent to his residence
1 hour -
Delta Air Lines deploys new Airbus on Accra-New York route
1 hour -
PPDC spearheads Africa’s AI development at DRIF24 forum
1 hour -
Ripoti App launched to empower journalists, others to tackle digital rights violations in Africa
2 hours -
Ground-breaking health investment charter to tackle worker shortages in Africa
2 hours -
From Mortuary to Matrimony: Feature on how couple’s love journey brewed at the morgue airs on Joy Prime
2 hours -
Ghana’s LPG prices rank among the highest globally – LPG Marketers Association
2 hours -
Filth Exhibition: Residents near Korle Gonno bear the brunt of nationwide filth
2 hours -
We’ve not selected NPP members as returning officers – EC replies Mahama
2 hours -
We’ll not honour any invitation – ECG tells Ashanti Regional Minister
3 hours