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The Ministry of Local and Rural Development (MLGRD) has been urged to abolish metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) without sound financial footing to ensure efficiency and rapid socio-economic development future of the country.

     Mr Edward Ampratwum, Senior Researcher, Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) who gave the advise said some MMDAs, have failed to build solid financial base as required by law resulting in their over dependency on their share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

     Speaking at a day’s capacity building workshop for 42 assembly aspirants, he said this had led to the abysmal performance of some the assemblies, which had retarded national development.

    The programme was organised by the NGO with support from United States Agency for International Development as part of its nationwide exercise towards the forthcoming Local Level Elections with emphasis on women, the youth and persons with disabilities.

     It was on the theme: "Enhancing Citizens Participation in the 2015 Local Government Elections: Deepening Ghana's Decentralisation Process.

     It aimed at preparing the participants to win the elections and to sensitise them on the role and responsibilities of an assembly member.

     Mr Ampratwum said Article 240 of 1992 Constitution states: "There shall be established for each Local Government Unit a sound financial base with adequate and reliable source of Revenue" and MMDAs which fail to meet the condition should not exist.

     He said the situation has impacted negatively on the country on sanitation resulting in the recent cholera outbreak and loss of lives.

    According to Mr Ampratwum, to arrest the situation, MLGRD should in future peg MMDAs DACF to the size of their internally generated fund.

    Mr Nurudeen Alhassan, Greater Accra Regional CODEO Coordinator said PWDs, youth and women in the country have been marginalised in the society for far too long in leadership positions hence the programme.

   He facilitated on Competing for Political Office, Competing for office knowing the election landscape and campaign planning, among other topics.

    Similar programmes were held at Nzema East, Ellembelle and Bia West districts.