MMDAs must take responsibility for sanitation – Mahama Ayariga

Minister for Local Government, Mahama Ayariga, says he will push Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to take greater responsibility for sanitation management in their respective jurisdictions. He said the assemblies already have the legal mandate, funding, and enforcement mechanisms needed to tackle sanitation challenges and should not wait for the establishment of a separate sanitation authority.

Speaking on Thursday, September 10, Mr Ayariga said the 261 MMDAs are responsible for sanitation and have access to funding through the District Assemblies Common Fund and internally generated revenue. Mr Ayariga said the assemblies have the mandate to recruit sanitation workers, collect property and sanitation rates, and enforce relevant bylaws. He therefore called on the MMDAs to make better use of these powers to address sanitation problems in their communities. “You are the authority. You are managing this geographical space. And yours is to make sure that it is clean. There is no vacuum in terms of institutions. They have just refused to work, and they have refused to work in some instances because nobody is pushing…