By Ashiadey Dotse
The Municipal Chief Executive for the Ga South Municipal Assembly, Moses Kabu Kubi Ocansey, has called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to adopt innovative strategies to increase internally generated funds (IGF) and reduce their dependence on central government support.
Speaking in an interview on Public Concern on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Mr Ocansey said local authorities must rethink how they raise revenue by identifying and developing untapped opportunities within their jurisdictions.
He noted that many assemblies continue to rely heavily on transfers from central government, a situation he said undermines their financial independence and slows the implementation of development projects.
According to him, the Ga South Municipal Assembly has made progress in increasing its internally generated funds, but there is still significant room for improvement.
Mr Ocansey said that when he assumed office, the assembly was generating about GH¢5 million in IGF. He added that he set a target of GH¢6.4 million for the year.
“I managed to raise about GH¢5.5 million this year, but I still believe we can exceed the target with the new strategies we are introducing,” he said.
He explained that one of the approaches under consideration is the use of public-private partnerships, particularly in areas such as street advertising and sanitation management.
Mr Ocansey also stressed the importance of leadership by example, saying his personal involvement in clean-up exercises has helped to encourage greater community participation.
He urged assemblies across the country to identify revenue streams that are not being fully utilised, warning that overreliance on central government funding could hinder local development.
According to him, innovative and sustainable revenue mobilisation strategies will strengthen assemblies and improve service delivery in communities across Ghana.
