CLGA survey finds 64% of Ghanaians oppose creation of new districts

The Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) has released a comprehensive survey revealing that 64% of Ghanaians want the government to halt the creation of additional districts. The research, which sampled 10,400 citizens across the country, was presented during the launch of a research report titled "The Continuous Creation of Districts in Ghana: Legal, Developmental, Fiscal and Political Implications." The findings underscore a growing public sentiment that the current administrative structure is already expansive enough to meet the nation's developmental needs. Respondents expressed significant concerns that the existing 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are struggling to provide basic services effectively. Dr. Eric Oduro Osae, a prominent voice in local governance, emphasized at the launch that merely increasing the number of administrative units does not guarantee improvements in local economies or public service delivery. Instead, the survey indicates a strong public preference for enhancing the efficiency and performance of current assemblies rather than creating new ones to solve local challenges. A major factor influencing public opposition is the perception of political interference in the decentralization process. According to the CLGA findings, 81% of those surveyed cited political interest as a primary driver behind the continuous subdivision of districts, rather than genuine developmental needs. Isaac Owusu of the CLGA noted that these results reflect deep-seated anxieties regarding the current trajectory of decentralization in Ghana, with many citizens viewing the rapid expansion as a potential drain on limited fiscal resources. The report further highlights that 87% of respondents are calling for an immediate freeze on the establishment of new districts. This data suggests that the electorate prioritizes the consolidation of existing local government units to ensure they fulfill their mandate of grassroots development. As the debate over administrative expansion continues, the CLGA findings provide a clear signal to policymakers that the public favors the quality and effectiveness of governance over the quantity of administrative districts.