The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) is facing mounting pressure to maintain effective sanitation services as it continues to rely heavily on Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to bridge the gap caused by delays in District Assembly Common Fund allocations.
During a working visit by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources, Mr. John Oti Bless, it became clear that the Assembly’s sanitation budget is being stretched to the limit. He called for an urgent review of the use of IGF for sanitation, suggesting that interim guidelines or a policy amendment may be needed to sustain operations when statutory funding delays occur.
“District Assemblies should not be left without options when the Common Fund delays. We must rethink how IGF is used, especially for essential services like sanitation,” Mr. Oti Bless remarked.
The visit also shed light on the operational challenges facing the Assembly. Mr. Victor Acquaye, Municipal Environmental Health Analyst at KoKMA, painted a bleak picture of the situation, citing a backlog in refuse collection, rising fuel and spare parts costs, overloaded refuse trucks, and disposal site difficulties.
He stressed the need for a regulated system for refuse collectors, as well as increased government support. “We need a solid waste formula component that accounts for cost fluctuations and ensures standard compliance,” Mr. Acquaye appealed.
Mr. Emmanuel Baisie, the Municipal Coordinating Director, disclosed that a large portion of the Assembly’s IGF is already allocated to sanitation. Despite the financial strain, he said KoKMA remains committed to keeping the city clean.
The call for formal contracts between Assemblies and service providers was also echoed during the visit, as a means to ensure accountability and efficiency in waste management services.
The situation at KoKMA reflects a broader issue across many Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), as funding delays and operational costs continue to threaten the sustainability of sanitation services nationwide.
