The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has handed Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) a two-week deadline to fix all broken streetlights in their areas.
Speaking at a media briefing in Accra on Thursday, August 28, the Minister revealed that her office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, had secured 3,000 streetlights to be shared among the assemblies, with each MMDA receiving 100.
However, she insisted that assemblies must also make their own purchases to ensure all streets are properly lit.
“Let me be clear, you have two weeks only to ensure that every single one of those lights is fixed. No excuses, no delays. I will personally monitor this directive. Any chief executive who fails to comply will be exposed and reported. If you cannot manage these basic tasks, then you have no business occupying that office,” she warned.
She said poor lighting, sanitation problems, and the spread of illegal billboards were clear signs of neglect by some assemblies.
“At this stage, excuses are nothing but an embarrassment to the people we serve. Leadership is not about sitting in offices and enjoying the perks of your position, but it’s about delivering results, and right now, many of you are simply sleeping on your jobs,” she said.
She said that streetlights are not just infrastructure but “a matter of public safety, urban order and a key enabler of the 24-hour economy being pursued by government.”
Beyond sanitation and streetlights, she also raised concerns about how some MMDCEs are abusing their offices by allowing personal assistants (PAs) to perform official duties and by using assembly offices for partisan political meetings.
“Some of you have surrounded yourselves with personal assistants who have virtually taken over your official responsibilities. If you have decided to bring PAs, let them be clear, their role is strictly to help you organise your schedules, manage your time and provide administrative support. Your PAs are not to approve documents or represent you at official meetings. This must stop immediately,” she cautioned.
“Assemblies cannot run by unelected, unappointed individuals hiding behind your authority. Furthermore, I have reports that many of you have also turned your official offices into party meeting grounds, filling them with unauthorized officials and visitors, while your staff… are denied access to discuss official matters. This is abuse of office and is unacceptable,” she added.
The Minister noted that no MMDCE would be allowed to attend Regional Co-ordinating Council meetings with personal assistants, warning that strict confidentiality must be maintained.
“This practice ends now, and if it continues, the individuals involved will face serious consequences,” she said.