Nearly nine in ten respondents want a freeze on new assemblies, while 81 per cent say political interference drives the creation of districts.

Published 11 Nov 2026, 08:44 GMT

2 min read

Presentation of the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy survey on new districts — The CLGA presents its survey findings on the creation of new districts

Sixty-four per cent of respondents surveyed by researchers at the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) oppose the creation of additional districts and say Ghana's existing 261 assemblies are enough.

Presenting the findings, CLGA Head of Research Isaac Owusu said 87 per cent of those surveyed also backed an immediate freeze on establishing new Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across all 261 districts nationwide.

According to Owusu, who led the study, 81 per cent of respondents identified political interference as a major driver behind decisions to carve out new administrative units.

He said the results showed public doubt over whether new assemblies are created to meet community development needs or to serve political interests.

Instead of adding more administrative boundaries, respondents favoured strengthening the financial and institutional capacity of existing assemblies so they can make decentralisation work for citizens.

"The creation of a new district does not automatically create a stronger local economy, a functioning health facility, a reliable water supply, improved roads, better schools or employment opportunities," Osae said.

He urged policymakers to evaluate the resource base and performance of existing MMDAs before considering any further expansion of Ghana's local government structure.

Under Ghana's local governance system, the 261 assemblies are tasked with local infrastructure, sanitation, basic education and health facilities, yet many remain heavily dependent on transfers from the District Assemblies Common Fund.

The survey findings add to wider calls within government for practical results in decentralisation, after Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang stressed that local governance reforms should be judged by tangible community outcomes rather than administrative structures.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

64% of Ghanaians oppose creation of new districts – CLGA survey

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