Ayariga says district assemblies will have to put their meetings on local FM radio

Pinned summary · as of 07:31

Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Minister Mahama Ayariga has announced that his ministry plans to bring in rules obliging Ghana's district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to put their sittings on local radio as they happen. He spoke in Accra on Wednesday, 30 September, at a breakfast with development partners and the heads of the ministry's agencies.

What we know

• Mr Ayariga announced plans for regulations and directives that would require assemblies (MMDAs) to air their meetings live on local FM stations.
• He made the announcement in Accra on Wednesday, 30 September, while addressing development partners and ministry agency heads at a breakfast meeting.
• The minister argued that assemblies sit as local lawmaking bodies and so should be open to the public. Mr Ayariga said: “every assembly meeting must be aired live on the local FM stations because assemblies are local legislative bodies”.
• The plan is meant to promote transparency and accountability in local governance and to keep residents informed about what their assemblies decide.
• Mr Ayariga said the ministry would partner with broadcasters in the communities concerned and is already supporting regional stations, whose platforms it intends to use to widen public access to assembly business.
• The minister compared the openness he expects from assemblies with the access the public has to proceedings in the national Parliament.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Rainbow Radio Online described the requirement as one that will soon become a legal obligation. The other reports speak only of plans to introduce regulations, and no start date has been given.

Why it matters for Ghana

Assemblies decide on local projects, budgets and services, so residents have a direct interest in hearing how those choices are made. Local FM stations are a familiar way for many communities to follow public affairs. If the rules are introduced, listeners in district towns could follow assembly debates without travelling to the venue, and broadcasters would be drawn into covering local government.