The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Chairman of the Committee for the Elevation of Districts and Municipalities, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has presented far-reaching recommendations to upgrade 33 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country.
The proposals, submitted to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs on Monday, February 24, 2026, include elevating 12 existing municipalities to metropolitan status, upgrading one district directly to metropolis, and converting 20 districts into municipalities.
“The committee finds it necessary to upgrade 12 existing municipalities into metropolises and one district to be upgraded to a metropolis because of very compelling reasons. Then, also, when it comes to the upgrading of districts to municipalities, we have recommended 20 districts to be upgraded into municipalities,” Asiedu Nketia stated during the presentation.
He explained that the upgrades are driven by demographic growth, economic potential and administrative needs. He added that the committee has proposed mechanisms to make future elevations more systematic and less dependent on ad hoc committees.
“Beyond the recommendation for an upgrade, we also found it necessary to bring other recommendations that are aimed at strengthening local governance and decentralisation, and we believe that if these recommendations are implemented, it will not be necessary in the future to establish such a committee. The upgrade will take the form of an automaticity when an upgrade is needed,” he added.
In addition to the status elevations, the committee is pushing for broader structural reforms in local governance. These include the development of a standard manual to guide future elevation processes, a mandatory three-year development plan supported by seed funding for newly upgraded areas, and the introduction of municipal bonds to allow MMDAs to raise funds directly from the capital market.
Asiedu Nketia emphasised the need for practical follow-through, cautioning that upgrades must not remain “on paper.”
He warned that upgrades must be matched with the necessary infrastructure, human resources and services to justify the new status.
The report further recommends the urgent passage of a Local Government Finance Bill to strengthen the financial autonomy of assemblies and accelerate grassroots development.
The recommendations are currently under review by the government and await final approval before any implementation can begin.
