Story by Christopher Tetteh
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, has announced that five percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) will be earmarked for spatial planning activities across all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) starting in 2026.
Speaking at a two-day National Dialogue on Decentralization and Responsive Governance in Accra, Mr. Ibrahim expressed concern over the continued neglect of spatial planning by MMDAs, attributing the issue to misplaced priorities. He emphasized that the dedicated funding would help reposition spatial planning as a central pillar in local development efforts.
The event, themed “Resetting Decentralization for Responsive Governance and Effective Service Delivery,” served as a platform to reaffirm national commitment to decentralization and promote collective governance.
Mr. Ibrahim highlighted that effective spatial planning is crucial for sustainable land use, urban growth, and increased local revenue.
He was responding to a passionate appeal made by Pln. Gifty Nyarko, National President of the Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP) regarding the lack of attention and funding for spatial planning in many districts, despite the significant revenue contributions of Physical Planning Departments.
Mr. Ibrahim stressed that achieving national goals related to decentralization, economic development, and climate resilience is not possible without robust spatial planning at the local level.
As an interim measure, he urged MMDAs to begin allocating a portion of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to support planning activities ahead of the official DACF allocation in 2026.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to developing the institutional and financial frameworks necessary to empower MMDAs to fulfill their planning mandates effectively.
Pln. Nyarko, who also serves as the African Ambassador for Inclusive Urban Governance and Climate-Resilient Development, called for dedicated resources and capacity-building to strengthen local planning capabilities.
