Prolonged conflict and curfew restrictions in Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti Region are severely stalling development and revenue generation in the area.
The situation has constrained the assembly’s ability to mobilise revenue, particularly in communities where commercial activities and markets are important sources of income.
Although the Assembly projected to raise a total of GH₵2 million in 2026, it had generated only about GH₵557,000 as of September this year.
Disturbing conflict
Appearing before the Local Government and Rural Development Committee in Parliament on October 28, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nkwanta South, Joseph Awal Antwi, attributed the low revenue performance partly to the conflict and restrictions on movement, which had disrupted economic activities and affected the assembly’s administrative operations.
“As a municipality, we were supposed to raise more than GH₵2 million in internally generated funds, but because of the conflict disturbing us, we were not even able to mobilise GH₵1million for the year,” he said.
The MCE made the disclosure in response to a question from the Chairperson of the committee, Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr, about the amount of IGF the municipality had been able to mobilise.
She had noted that some district assemblies generated as much as GH₵1 million in IGF annually and questioned why a municipality could not mobilise more revenue.
She observed that the conflict was affecting families and children, particularly women who had to contend with the disruptions associated with the conflict.
“Women are especially going through a lot as the conflict affects them most,” the Chairperson said.
Adverse curfew impact
The MCE said the consequences of the conflict extended beyond revenue mobilisation to the implementation of projects, as contractors and public officials were unable to operate as efficiently as expected.
“If the contractor has to work for 10 hours, he will work for two or three hours a day,” he said.
Mr Antwi explained that curfew restrictions had been stricter for about four to five years, beginning as early as 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., before the hours were relaxed to 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. about six months ago.
He said the affected communities included areas where the assembly generated a substantial proportion of its revenue from various markets.
“The curfew was just revised to 8 p.m.,” he said, highlighting how the municipality had faced several challenges over the period.
The exchange highlighted concerns about the effect of insecurity on local economic activity, as well as the need for the assembly to strengthen its revenue mobilisation and demonstrate how available public funds were being used.
Development projects
Despite the revenue challenges, the MCE told the committee that the assembly was undertaking a number of development projects, including the provision of educational infrastructure, health facilities and water.
She said contractors were expected to move to project sites following the completion of procurement processes for some of the works.
“We are doing schools and the CHPS compound,” he said, adding that “we have been able to commission three basic classroom blocks”.
Mr Antwi added that the assembly was also investing in water infrastructure such as the provision of boreholes in some communities.
Asked about the cost of the facilities, he explained that the amounts varied according to the location and the type of installation.
He mentioned that mechanised water systems could cost up to GH¢120,000, while manually operated facilities cost about GH¢70,000.
When a member of the committee also sought clarification on the assembly’s use of its District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the MCE said the assembly received about GH¢12 million out of an allocation of GH¢19 million, representing approximately 63 per cent of allocation.
