ChaLoG Uncovers Low Morale in MMDAs Due to Political Interference

The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) has disclosed a rising wave of despondency and low morale among civil and local government staff working in the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), attributing it to extensive political interference.

“This unfortunate turn of events has been occasioned by the unrestrained political interference in the day-to-day functional responsibilities of the staff in the MMDAs,” ChaLoG stated in a press release signed by its executives and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

The chamber highlighted that this unacceptable phenomenon has fostered growing apathy among local government staff, subsequently resulting in low revenue generation and poor service delivery to citizens by the MMDAs.

Nationwide investigations by ChaLoG revealed disturbing trends of indiscriminate and unjustifiable staff transfers influenced by chief executives, presiding members, and party constituency executives. The findings indicate that these individuals pose a threat to local government staff by using transfers as a tool, facilitated by Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

ChaLoG emphasized several critical issues including:

• Constant political interference and threats to internal auditors enforcing correct procedures.
• Excessive political influence in contract preparation and awards.
• Placement of party foot soldiers in units and departments to monitor and sometimes usurp the responsibilities of local government staff.
• Deliberate sidelining of local government staff in critical decision-making processes.
• Forceful takeover and locking up of offices and seizure of official vehicles used by senior local government staff.
• Replacement of trained and experienced revenue collectors with inexperienced party foot soldiers, impacting revenue collection.

The chamber underscored that the political interference has significantly affected revenue generation and service delivery, as technically skilled staff adopt a passive approach, fearing victimization and politically motivated transfers.

“This unfortunate phenomenon has largely demotivated and demoralized local government staff, leading them to deliberately report to work late, allowing political actors to do as they please in their absence,” ChaLoG stated.

The ChaLoG has called on the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to urgently address the overbearing political conduct within the MMDAs. They stressed the necessity of allowing well-trained and qualified local government staff the autonomy to perform their duties independently, which is crucial for enhancing service delivery and generating revenue for developmental projects in the MMDAs.

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