By Hebrews Pouyeli Kumako
Following the recent decision to elevate Ketu South from Municipal to Metropolitan status on February 4, 2026, former Member of Parliament for the constituency Hon. Albert Kwasi Zigah, has raised critical concerns over the move, arguing that the municipality lost a major development opportunity years ago due to the failure to create additional districts assembly.
In an exclusive interview with News Volta, Hon. Zigah recounted his efforts during his tenure in Parliament under the administration of late President John Evans Atta Mills, when Ghana undertook a major decentralisation drive that led to the creation of new Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in 2012.
Hon. Zigah revealed that he formally proposed the creation of three new districts out of the then Ketu South District, namely:
- Aflao District Assembly
- Somè District Assembly
- Klikor District Assembly
Alternatively, he proposed at least the creation of two districts – Aflao District and Somè Klikor District Assembly or Ketu South West District Assembly a political boundary – to enhance local governance and accelerate development in Ketu South.
According to him, the proposal was part of a decentralised strategy to ensure development across the vast, Sparsely and densely populated traditional areas of Ketu South, especially Somè and Klikor, which he said were underserved.
“My vision was to see all the traditional areas of Ketu South been develop. The traditional landscape of Ketu South is very large, with Sparsely populated in Somè and Klikor and densely in Aflao, yet development remained uneven,” he stated.
Lobbying Efforts Fell Through
He disclosed that he lobbied persuasively , engaging the then Minister for Local Government, Hon. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, and successfully secured parliamentary recognition for Aflao and Somè Klikor District proposals, placing them on the parliamentary order paper for urgent consideration.
However, despite these efforts, Ketu South was eventually elevated to Municipal status, while the proposal for new districts Somè Klikor and Aflao was rejected.
“All my efforts and vision to see Ketu South gain additional districts vanished in 2012. This denied transitional communities the chance to benefit from decentralisation concept,” he lamented.
Development Concerns
Hon. Zigah argued that splitting Ketu South into smaller administrative units would have improved decentralisation, infrastructure development, and equitable distribution of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
He noted that many communities still face serious infrastructure, sanitation, unban roads an transportation , and socio-economic challenges, and questioned the rush to metropolitan status.
“If Ketu South Municipal Assembly has not fully achieved Municipal-status decentralisation, infrastructure expansion, unban roads and transportation and socio-economic development, why the hurry to elevate it to metropolitan status?” he asked.
“Ketu South still needs additional districts to unlock development, bring governance closer to the people, and ensure fair distribution of national resources,” he stressed.
Despite these concerns, he commended President John Dramani Mahama for stabilising the country and restoring economic hope, describing his leadership as “visionary and people-centered.”
However, he called on the President and government to reconsider the administrative structure of Ketu South, advocating for the creation of additional two districts as a long-term solution to development imbalances.
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Source News Volta
