The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has commenced the 2026–2029 Composite Budget Hearings for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region. The four-day exercise, scheduled from 20th to 23rd October 2025, is being held concurrently across all twenty-nine Assemblies.
Speaking at the opening session, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo emphasized the critical role the hearings play in ensuring transparency, participation, and accountability in public financial management. She noted that the process aligns with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), and the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378), which guides the preparation and execution of public budgets.
Hon. Ocloo highlighted key challenges confronting local governance financial administration, including low Internally Generated Funds (IGF), weak planning–budgeting linkages, non-compliance with expenditure ceilings, and limited capacity in programme-based budgeting. She also noted persistent deficiencies in data management and financial reporting systems across some Assemblies.
> “Budgeting is not a formality. It is a legal and moral obligation to plan, spend, and account responsibly. Every cedi must be justified by tangible public value,” the Minister stated.
She stressed the need to empower sub-district structures—Urban, Town, Zonal and Area Councils, as well as Unit Committees—describing them as the frontline interface between government and local communities. According to her, without strengthening these grassroots governance bodies, development programmes and budgets will not translate into improved service delivery.
To address the challenges, Hon. Ocloo outlined measures the RCC will implement, including:
Capacity-building for MMDA finance and planning personnel.
Improved local revenue mobilization through digital systems and updated property valuation rolls.
Strict enforcement of expenditure controls and adherence to budget ceilings.
Strengthening coordination between Planning and Budget Units.
Enhancing timely reporting and monitoring through GIFMIS.
Deepening collaboration with development partners and private sector actors.
The Minister also acknowledged what she described as “unprecedented DACF releases under the current administration”, urging Assemblies to demonstrate fiscal prudence and align spending with community needs.
> “To whom much is given, much is expected. Let our budgets reflect the development aspirations of the people we serve,” she added.
Hon. Ocloo commended MMDA officials, heads of departments, traditional leaders, civil society groups and development partners for their ongoing commitment to the region’s growth agenda. She called for sustained cooperation to build a region that is “fiscally responsible, development-focused, and community-driven.”