Gov’t Set to Upgrade 33 Districts After Presidential Approval, Says Local Govt Minister

Twelve municipalities and one district are set to be upgraded to metropolis status, with an additional 20 districts to become municipalities, pending executive approval and parliamentary passage of the required legislative instruments.

Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, disclosed this in Parliament while responding to questions on the status of district upgrades.

The Minister explained that the ministry received numerous petitions between 2020 and 2024 requesting the elevation of some districts and municipalities. After extensive consultation and technical assessment, former President Nana Akufo-Addo granted executive approval in December 2024, which was widely published.

However, the legislative instruments needed to complete the process under Section 3(1) of the Local Governance Act, 2016, Act 936, could not be laid in Parliament “due to transitional processes and other administrative issues following the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

To resolve the backlog, the ministry on December 19, 2025 constituted and inaugurated a technical committee chaired by Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketia. The committee’s terms of reference included:

1. Reviewing data on districts due for upgrade

2. Visiting selected districts and engaging chiefs and opinion leaders

3. Consulting relevant ministries, departments and agencies

4. Recommending reforms to strengthen local governance and decentralisation

5. Submitting a report to the Minister within eight weeks

*33 areas recommended*

“Mr Speaker, the committee submitted a report and recommendation for the upgrading of 12 municipalities and a district to metropolis as well as 20 districts to municipalities,” Hon. Ibrahim told the House.

He said the report has been forwarded to the Office of the President for consideration and executive approval.

“Once approval is received, the ministry will follow due process, particularly laying of the legislative instrument in parliament for passage,” the Minister assured.

Responding to a direct question, he confirmed: “And I can assure my brother that Techiman is included.”