‘Accra People’ Should Stop Dictating Development Priorities for Districts – Local Leaders Warn

‘Accra People’ Should Stop Dictating Development Priorities for Districts – Local Leaders Warn

A growing chorus of local government officials and community leaders is calling on central authorities and technocrats in Accra to refrain from imposing top-down development priorities on rural and semi-urban districts across Ghana.

Speaking at a regional planning forum held in the Eastern Region, several Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) joined traditional rulers in voicing concerns over what they termed “Accra-centered development planning” that overlooks the real and pressing needs of local communities.

“We appreciate the support from central government, but the people of Accra cannot fully understand the realities of our districts. Our priorities must be shaped by local conditions, not dictated from afar,” said one District Chief Executive who spoke anonymously.

This sentiment reflects a long-standing tension between national development policies drafted in Accra and the practical realities faced in rural districts. Many projects initiated under central government programs are often viewed as misaligned with local needs, unsustainable, or driven by political motives rather than genuine community input.

Traditional authorities echoed these sentiments, urging the Ministry of Local Government and other national agencies to deepen engagement with district assemblies before approving major infrastructure, educational, health, or agricultural interventions.

“We don’t need another monument or conference center when our clinics lack beds and our schools are overcrowded. Let us define what progress means for our own people,” said Nana Kwame Boakye, a respected traditional leader in the Eastern Region.

Civil society groups and development experts have also backed the call for a more bottom-up approach, emphasizing that participatory development leads to better outcomes, accountability, and stronger community ownership.

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), in response, noted it is working to improve frameworks that allow districts to take greater control of their Medium-Term Development Plans. However, funding mechanisms and political pressures continue to tie district implementation closely to central decision-making.

As the country prepares for its next round of decentralization reforms and the 2024 general elections, this debate is expected to intensify. Advocates for local autonomy believe that only through genuine district-led planning can Ghana achieve balanced national development that truly reflects the needs of its people.