President John Dramani Mahama has directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in regions where the Presidential Accountability Series has been held to organise similar accountability engagements in their respective jurisdictions.
The directive, issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, forms part of efforts to extend the government’s accountability and transparency agenda from the national and regional levels to local communities.
Under the directive, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are expected to organise accountability sessions twice a year through town hall meetings, providing MMDCEs with a platform to account to residents for the implementation of government policies and programmes.
The Ministry said the initiative would serve as a follow-up to the Presidential Accountability Series by creating opportunities for direct engagement between local government authorities and citizens.
The sessions are expected to focus on the performance of MMDCEs against their approved Medium-Term Development Plans and Annual Action Plans, as well as the implementation of government flagship programmes.
MMDCEs will also be required to account for the utilisation of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and other public resources.
Other areas to be addressed will include infrastructure and development projects, sanitation and waste management, education, health, social protection, local economic development, revenue mobilisation and expenditure management.
The accountability sessions will also cover employment, youth development and skills training programmes, interventions for persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, security and disaster management, the status of Assembly commitments and projects, as well as challenges requiring regional or national intervention.
As part of the exercise, MMDCEs are expected to outline their priorities and commitments for the next implementation period, enabling residents to assess both past performance and proposed interventions.
The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has directed that the engagements be broad-based, involving traditional authorities, Members of Parliament, Assembly Members, Unit Committee representatives, religious leaders, organised labour, civil society organisations, youth and women’s groups, persons with disabilities, market associations, business and professional groups, development partners, community-based organisations, the media and the general public.
The Ministry further stressed that residents must be given adequate opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification on the performance and activities of their respective MMDAs.
All MMDAs have been directed to begin preparations immediately and organise their accountability sessions within a period to be communicated by the Regional Coordinating Councils. The Ministry has recommended that the sessions be held within a reasonable period after the Presidential Accountability Series in each region.
The Regional Coordinating Councils have been tasked with coordinating and monitoring the exercise to ensure that all eligible MMDCEs participate.
They will also assess the quality and inclusiveness of the engagements.
The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs is expected to undertake monitoring visits or participate in selected sessions as part of its oversight responsibilities.
Describing the initiative as a “priority accountability and citizen-engagement assignment,” the Ministry directed MMDCEs to personally lead the sessions in their respective jurisdictions.
The Ministry said the exercise was intended to promote open and citizen-centred engagements that would strengthen accountability and public confidence in local governance.
MMDAs have also been directed to make appropriate budgetary arrangements within their approved budgets and in line with applicable financial management procedures to facilitate the organisation of the accountability sessions.
Source: nkilgifm.com
