The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development exists to promote the establishment and development of a vibrant and well resourced decentralized system of local government for the people of Ghana lo ensure good governance and balanced rural based development.

This will be done by: Formulating, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and co-ordinatinq reform policies and programmes to democratize governance and decentralize the machinery of government.

Reforming and energizing local governments to serve effectively as institutions for mobilizing and harnessing local resources for local national administration and development

Facilitating the development of all human settlements through community and popular participation. Facilitating the promotion of a clean and healthy environment.

Facilitating horticultural development.

Improving the demographic database for development planning and management.

Promoting orderly human settlement development.

The Ministry believes in efficiency, effectiveness and transparency.

Focus on the above will be based on two divisions:

Local government – Strong Structures, Revenue Mobilization and Collection, and Sanitation.

Rural Development – Rural roads, Information and Communications Technology, Tourism and Agric Processing.

Objectives

The following objectives will be pursued by the Ministry in the Medium term.

To formulate appropriate policies and programmes to accelerate the implementation of decentralization of the machinery of government. This is to avoid re-centralization of government machinery.

To improve upon the human resources and institutional capacities for all levels of the decentralized government machinery (District, town and Unit)

To improve the capacity of communities and local government institutions to mobilize, and manage resources for accelerated rural and urban development.

To promote community based registration, collation, analysis and publication of data on all binds and deaths occurring in Ghana.

To promote human development and sustain the orderly and healthy growth ol rural and urban settlements in Ghana.

To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of local government institutions tor improved management performance

3.0 PERFORMANCE FOR 2012

3.1 Local Government Service and Decentralisation

As part of Government’s commitment to deepening democracy and local development, 46 new districts were created.

Based on the Human Resource capacity and Physical Infrastructure Audit Report, the Service recruited 2,602 Local Government Service Professional staff. Appointment and postings of District Coordinating Directors (DCDs) and Heads of Departments are on­going. This is geared towards developing and retaining human resource capacity at National, Regional and District levels. Additionally, the secretariat developed, validated, printed and distributed Human Resource Policy, Scheme of Service (SoS), Conditions of Service (CoS) and Human Resource recruitment guidelines for members of the Local Government Service and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The implementation of the communication strategy of Local Government Service, a framework for the management of the Local Government Service website and the communication strategy were developed. Public education & sensitization (TV, Radio programme) were also organized and Local Government Service posters and brochures produced.

Reports on the revision, amendment and consolidation of all local government legislation issues to ensure consistency in the implementation of Acts 462, 656 and L.I. 1961 by a team of experts were completed and ready for implementation. The revision of these relevant Acts is to facilitate inter-service collaboration of the Local Government System.

Sensitization workshops on the role of Local Government Service at all levels were held by the Secretariat to operationalize the Local Government Service. In addition, Trainer of Trainees workshops on generic guidelines for the establishment of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies departments and Human Resource policies and protocols were also held.

The Service completed the merger and integration of the Departments of Social Welfare and Community Development into one department in 31 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

The National M&E Framework to facilitate M&E across Districts as well as the review and update of Local Government Service Medium Term Development Plan (MDTP) 2012-2015 for Capacity Building and Technical Support to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies , Regional Coordinating Councils and Ministries Departments and As are on-going.

In collaboration with Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and other stakeholders, the Secretariat facilitated the training of members of the Regional and District Budget Committees which saw the successful implementation of the Composite Budget in 2012.

3.2 District Development Facility

An amount of GH₵157.25 million was disbursed to MMDAs in 2012 based on the 2009 and 2010 Functional Organisational Assessment Tool (FOAT) assessment results. This amount transferred to the MMDAs was made up of GH₵137.75 for the District Development Facility (DDF) and GH₵19.50 million was for Urban Development Grant.

As at the end of December, 2012 a total of 1,030 projects were undertaken in the following sectors. Education -359, Health – 96, Sanitation – 106, Water -117, Roads -46, Sanitation -168, Energy – 32, Economic – 64, Security – 5 and Governance – 37. The   2011   FOAT   assessment,   which   also   includes   the   assessment for   Urban Development Grant (UDG) was completed in November, 2012

As part of implementation of the Communication Strategy of the DDF Secretariat, a draft documentary on projects/programmes of DDF and FOAT assessment was developed.

Generic Capacity Building component of the DDF-Generic training programme for 10 thematic areas identified as weakness by FOAT 2006, 2008 and 2009 targeted for all MMDAs were also carried out to build the capacity of the staff of the MMDAs. These areas are Public Procurement Management, Project management, Documentation and Records Keeping, Management and Leadership Skills, Minutes and Report Writing, Financial Regulations, Financial Management & Accounting, Revenue Mobilisation, Database Management and human Resource Management.

3.4 Ghana School Feeding Programme

A National School Feeding Policy has been initiated to build coherence and sustainability in the delivery of the School Feeding Programme. An agric consultant was also engaged to strengthen the linkage of the programme to agriculture.

The Ghana School Feeding Programme also collaborated with National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to supply local rice to feed all beneficiary schools. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Consultant was engaged to strengthen the M&E of the programme at all levels.

The programme is currently covering 1,582,402 pupils in 4,545 beneficiary schools. Situational Analysis on nutrition of the programme was conducted. Service Providers (Caterers) were trained in food safety, nutritional best practices nationwide, and Menu charts were developed for all MMDAs to reflect districts food baskets.

3.5 Department Of Community Development

The Department effectively and efficiently implemented the formal apprenticeship/tracer programmes for 24 No. Community Development Vocational/Technical Institutes (CDV/TIs) to enhance human resource capacity. In addition; 2 workshops were also organised on Competency Based Training Skills for 437 beneficiaries.

Currently, the programme covers 2,430 students comprising 220 males and 2,210 females. One hundred and ninety-seven Girls from poor households In 59 districts were provided with scholarship to pursue studies in male dominated subject areas at the CDV/TIs.

3.6 Births and Deaths Registry

The total registration of births as at 31* December, 2012 was 715,271 births which comprises of 426,143 fresh registrations and 289,128 late registrations. Whiles the total registration of deaths sum up to 88,972 consisting of 54,286 fresh registrations and 34,686 late registrations.

3.7 Department of Parks and Gardens

The department supplied 21,500 tree seedlings to schools and other organized people in the Communities to undertake tree planting. Maintenance of all landscaped areas of all Roundabouts, Road medians and Road shoulders in our cities and towns, Castle Gardens, State House, Flagstaff House, Asomdwee Park and Peduase Lodge were all carried out.

In collaboration with National Security and Botany Department of the University of Ghana, the Nationalism Park and Biodiversity Information Facility were established respectively.

3.8 Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit

Two engineered landfills have been completed in Tema and Sekondi/ Takoradi, A 900 ton capacity recycling and compost plant at Adjen-Kotoku in the Ga West Municipality under a public private partnership with Zoomlion Co. Ltd has been completed and is operational. This initiative will be replicated in other Assemblies especially Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies.

Rural Sanitation Model and Strategy [RSMS), Millennium Acceleration Framework (MAP), NESSAP and Education and Communication (NEC) documents were developed to deepen education on environmental sanitation. 200No. motorbikes, 4No. Vehicles and 1ONo. Laptops were provided to support CLTS and behaviour change. World Toilet Day was celebrated as part of awareness creation on environmental sanitation and hand washing with soap campaign was also launched. The department developed a website to propagate information on its activities.

3.9 Centre for Urban Transportation

The Centre collaborated with Ministry of Transport and the Urban Development Unit to develop the Road Traffic Regulation. It also facilitated the formation of Urban Passenger Transport Units as well as their integration into the participating MMAs as Transport Departments under LI 1961. The Centre also provided advisory services on Non-Motorized Transport for Tema Metropolitan Assembly.

In order to have a suitable metropolitan public regulatory body for urban transport in Accra, an interim Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (Pre- GAPTE) Unit has been created with core staff in place.

3.10 Urban Poverty Reduction Project

The project completed the preparation of 60 Community Business and Development Plans, Three Hundred and Sixty representatives of local government institutions, civil society and the private sector were trained to contribute to employment-oriented public-private-partnerships. In addition, 15,000 properties of 14 MMDAs were re-valued and valuation list submitted. The roll based revenue management systems were installed in each MMDA and their staffs were trained in its operations.

Two Hundred and Thirty- Six (236) socio economic infrastructure have been completed and handed over to beneficiary communities. These include 94 educational facilities, 30 health facilities, 47 water and sanitation projects, 51 market facilities and 14 ICT and resource development centres.

3.11 Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP)

36 of the sub-projects under the GSOP, made up of 17 social infrastructure subprojects, 1 feeder road of length 6.4km, 6 rehabilitated dams and 12 climate change interventions were completed. In addition, 145 others made up of 23 social infrastructures, 35 feeder roads of total length 114.2 km and 83 climate change activities are on-going and are at various levels of completion, ranging between 35% and 75% complete. 22,873 unskilled and 2,500 skilled workers respectively were employed at a total cost of GH₵ 1,116,450.94.

3.12 Local Enterprises and Skills Development Project [LESDEP)

In 2012, LESDEP provided 44,735 unemployed persons with skills training in vocational, entrepreneurship and business development services. The beneficiaries have been provided with set-up equipment and have established businesses in various trades.

3.13 Food Security and Environment Facility [FSEF)

In 2012, the Project supported 930 farmers (344 men, 586 women) to adopt improved soil management method (“Zai” method), 550 farmers have also been assisted with farm inputs such as maize and soybeans in East Mamprusi, Builsa, Garu and East Gonja Districts. 422 farmers (232 men and 190 women) have been trained in production on pre-harvest and post-harvest management of onions. In addition, Fourty (40) farmers from Sapeliga, 20 from Saka and 30 from Nagbere (23 male and 67 female) were sent to SARI Research Centre for demonstration on two main onion varieties: Bawku red and the hybrid almi.

For the period under review, the Winaba community were also exposed to improved onion storage structures.

• Nine (9) onion storage facilities have been completed for use by onion beneficiaries in 9

communities.

• Busa and Sing Communities in Wa Municipal have been introduced to Cage fish Culture.
• A total of 12 cages; with a distribution of 9 cages to Busa and 3 cages to Sing

communities provided.

• Over 1000kg of tilapia have been harvested from 12 cages within the period January to

December 2012.

• Livestock demonstration house in beneficiary communities in Kasena Nankana West

District have been established. The use of local herb (ethno-veterinary)-to control

livestock diseases and pests have also been introduced.

• Two thousand (2000) grafted mangos (4 for each household) were provided to

beneficiaries for cultivation under the Natural resource project in Bongo District.

• Supported 184 women with groundnut seed and trained 233 women on the adoption and

use of mud stove in the Bongo District.

4.0 OUTLOOK FOR 2013

4.1 Local Government Service

In pursuit of its mandate, the LGS shall ensure that the 216 MMDAs are staffed with substantive Coordinating Directors and Heads of Departments.

Coordinating Directors and Heads of Departments will also be appointed for merged and established departments under Schedule I of L.L 1961.

In addition, the Service will establish Regional HR departments, 150 MMDAs HR Units and District Works Department In all MMDAs. It will also integrate departments under Schedule II in LI. 1961 into the MMDAs and develop sector-wide results based M&E system for all RCCs and MMDAs to establish baseline indicators as well as implement the report on LG legislations review.

The Service will establish Management Information System (MIS) in the LOSS and HR database Management System (HRDBMS) to be linked with 10 selected MMDAs as a pilot programme and the subsequent Incorporation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Database (IPPD) into the LGSS management in at least 5 MMDAs.

Procurement of equipment for 50 MMDAs for the EU-Human Resource Support Programme (HRSP) is on-going whiles Terms of Reference (ToR) and Request for Proposal for Human Resource database update will be completed.

4.2 District Development Facility

A total amount of US$66.30million will be mobilised and allocated to MMDAs based on FY 2011 FOAT Assessment. The secretariat will recruit consultants to conduct 2012 FOAT assessment for both DDF and UDG.

4.3 Ghana School Feeding Programme

The National School Feeding Policy will be launched and implemented. The programme will also collaborate with National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to introduce other food commodities other than rice.

4.4 Department Of Community Development

In pursuance of its mandate, the Department of Community Development shall transfer employable and sustainable skills to 6,000 youth through TVET, The scholarship programme shall be extended to additional 300 girls from poor households in 59 selected District Assemblies. Vocational and entrepreneurial skills training will be provided for 800 rural community groups. In addition, the Department will organize income generating activities for 400 rural community groups and train 120 Community Educators at the Rural Development College.

4.5 Births and Deaths Registry

The Births and Deaths Registry shall continue to provide vital statistics by way of demographic data for development planning. It will also improve registration coverage in the country and expand the Community Population Register Programme. Additional Registration centres in rural communities will be established and the computerization Programme of the Registry completed.

4.6 Department of Parks and Gardens

The Department will continue to promote landscape beautification of built and natural environment and collaborate with MMDAs to develop programmes for floral beautification of cities and towns. It will acquire lands to establish public parks and promote ecotourism to generate revenue for Assemblies and jobs for the youth. The Department will also pursue actions to combat the effects of global warming by promoting a national tree planting campaign involving all stakeholders.

The department will continue its collaboration with the Botany Department of the University of Ghana and other stakeholders to document the country’s flora. It will further develop and maintain a national information facility for sharing digital biodiversity data, initiate programmes to identify threatened economic and ornamental plants for multiplication and conservation. In addition, the department will promote public education on their conservation and importance of plants for human survival.

The department will concentrate on the conservation of threatened plants and restoration of plants diversity as well as communicating its importance under the Global strategy for plants conservation programme.

4.7 Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit

The Unit will continue to expand Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach to cover all regions and roll out results based M&E system for Environmental Sanitation. It will also develop Public – Private Partnership interventions in waste management, IE&C materials and also implement awareness raising activities at National, Regional and District levels aimed at changing attitudes and behaviour of citizens on environmental sanitation. Additionally two (2) Waste to Energy Plants will be constructed in Kumasi and Cape Coast

The Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit will support MMDAs to legally acquire treatment and disposal sites and facilities and facilitate the review of bye-laws of MMDAs and their enforcement. It will also organize the National Environmental Sanitation Conference, Sanitation Week and the World Toilet Day.

4.8 Centre for Urban Transportation

The Centre will review benchmark indicators for the Ghana Urban Transport Project and conduct research into current transportation trends, challenges and sustainable transport systems.

4.9 Integrated Rural Development Project

The project will provide fifty six basic social infrastructure which includes 12 classroom blocks, 12boreholes for the provision of potable water, 8 teachers and nurses’ quarters, 24 rural clinics and maternity homes.

The Project will provide credit to farmers to cover fertilizer, improve planting materials, agro- chemicals, simple agricultural plants and machines. In addition, the project will also support farmers to acquire intermediate means of transport to facilitate the transportation of food stuffs to storage points and markets. Also farm level and community level facilities will be constructed.

4.10 Ghana Social Opportunities Project

The project will implement the labour intensive public works made up of 424 subprojects including the rehabilitation of 124 Feeder Roads of length 467.75km and 50 Dams/dugouts as well as 128 Climate Change Interventions covering 1,051ha in 40 Districts. It will also strengthen DA and Community Monitoring of Social Protection Interventions.

4.11 Street Naming and Property Addressing

To improve revenue generation at the local level, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) would be supported in Street Naming and Property Addressing System.

4.12 Local Enterprises and Skills Development Project (LESDEP)

The program will focus more on value addition skills- based business models in order to

enhance the economic development and sustainability of the business.

4.13 Food Security and Environment Facility

The project will continue supporting farmers to introduced the “Zai” method and other sustainable soil management practice. These farmers will also be supported with inputs to increase production and at least 10 communities will be introduced to dry season farming in Builsa, East Gonja, East Mamprusi, Garu-Tempani Districts under Sustainable farming techniques programme.

Farmers will also be assisted to introduce improved variety of onions under the Onion Farmers livelihood and value chain improvement project in Bawku West.

The project in collaboration with UDS will improve the production of guinea fowls in selected communities in Nadowli and Wa Municipality.

There is also going to be improvements in housing and feed supplements for small remnants in the Wa East District