Accra: The government has declared its commitment to enhancing the capacity of the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in data collection, management, and utilization for planning and budgeting purposes. This initiative is aimed at enabling MMDAs to effectively plan and forecast to meet the needs and aspirations of the citizens.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, made this announcement in Accra during the launch and release of constituency profile reports on eight constituencies. The reports were compiled by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and On Think Tanks.
The constituencies covered in the report are Akatsi North, Odododiodio, Ablekuma South, Okaikwei South, Amansie Central, Fanteakwa North, Ketu South, Sekyere East, Talensi, and Tano South. The report aims to explore existing administrative data to highlight the significance of local data in making local decisions.
This initiative is part of the Data for Accountability Project (DAP), which seeks to enhance the use of evidence in parliament, thereby improving Ghana’s legislative capacity to monitor the country’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The reports leverage time-series data from specific geographical areas, encompassing information on health, education, and district assembly budget allocations.
The motivation behind the reports is to provide context to the development needs of constituencies for the Members of Parliament who represent them. Findings from the report show concerning educational gaps, such as more than one-third of children in Akatsi North and Ketu South missing kindergarten education, and over half of the population aged 12 and above in Fanteakwa North, Tano South, Ketu South, and Sekyere East being unable to read or write in any language.
Mr. Ibrahim emphasized the importance of evidence-based planning, noting that the availability of these reports would enhance policy formulation and planning for socio-economic infrastructure delivery in the MMDAs. He highlighted the significance of using administrative data at the district level, which aligns central government structures with decentralized entities.
He pointed out challenges, such as some constituencies’ failure to provide administrative data to the GSS for the report, and announced plans to address these issues. He also indicated that parliamentary committees would use the report for monitoring and formulating a formula for distributing the common fund in parliament.
Mr. Ibrahim called on all Members of Parliament whose constituencies were profiled to utilize the report to foster local partnerships, track development indicators, and engage meaningfully with citizens and local authorities.
Dr. Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of ACEPA, expressed that the report would adequately inform MPs about key constituency information for necessary actions. He advocated for a data-driven democracy where MPs rely on credible data for national policy debates.
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, the Government Statistician, noted that the report would strengthen parliamentary oversight at the district level for timely responses. GSS is prepared to collaborate with other institutions to expand the research to additional constituencies for more inclusive governance.
Some MPs present at the event commended the partners for the report and committed to designing timely interventions to tackle challenges in their constituencies.