‘My job is to push them to work’ – Ayariga vows to make MMDAs tackle sanitation

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 managing this geographical space.

And yours is to make sure that it is clean. They have just refused to work, and they have refused to work in some instances because nobody is pushing them to work. And my job as minister is to push them to work.

Mr Ayariga said he remains open to exploring the proposal for a sanitation authority, but its establishment must not be used as a reason for MMDAs to neglect their existing responsibilities. He spoke on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on September 10. He said the assemblies must be held accountable for sanitation in their areas and make full use of the powers available to them to address the challenges.

Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has vowed to put pressure on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to take full responsibility for sanitation in their respective jurisdictions. He said the 261 assemblies already have the legal authority, funding sources and enforcement powers required to manage sanitation and should therefore not use the absence of a dedicated sanitation authority as an excuse for inaction. The Minister noted that MMDAs can employ sanitation workers, impose property and sanitation rates, enforce bylaws and utilise resources from the District Assemblies Common Fund and internally generated revenue to address sanitation challenges.

Speaking on Citi FM on Thursday, September 10, Mr Ayariga said the assemblies were the institutions responsible for keeping their jurisdictions clean. Mr Ayariga added: “They have just refused to work, and they have refused to work in some instances because nobody is pushing them to work. I will do that.” He said government remained open to considering a separate sanitation authority but stressed that it must not allow MMDAs to abandon responsibilities they already have.