President John Dramani Mahama has directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in regions covered by his Presidential Accountability Series to replicate the initiative at the local government level.
The directive, issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, requires the affected MMDCEs to organise town hall meetings twice a year to engage residents on the performance of their respective assemblies.
The initiative is intended to bring accountability closer to communities by giving citizens an opportunity to question local authorities about the implementation of government policies, programmes and development projects.
At the meetings, MMDCEs are expected to report on their assemblies’ approved Medium-Term Development Plans and Annual Action Plans, as well as the implementation of government flagship programmes.
They will also be required to account for the use of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and other public resources.
The engagements will further cover infrastructure projects, sanitation and waste management, education, healthcare, social protection, local economic development, revenue mobilisation and expenditure management.
Issues relating to employment, youth development, skills programmes, support for persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, security and disaster management will also form part of the discussions.
MMDCEs are expected to outline the status of projects and commitments in their respective jurisdictions, identify challenges requiring regional or national intervention and present priorities for the next implementation period.
The Ministry has directed that the meetings should be broad-based, involving traditional authorities, Members of Parliament, Assembly Members, religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women’s groups, persons with disabilities, business and market associations, the media and the general public.
Residents will also be given opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification on the performance and activities of their respective assemblies.
The Regional Coordinating Councils are to coordinate and monitor the exercise, while the Ministry will undertake monitoring visits or participate in selected engagements.
The directive follows an earlier announcement by President Mahama that the government’s Accountability Series would extend from the regional level to the districts, with MMDCEs expected to engage chiefs, residents and other stakeholders on development issues.
The Ministry has described the MMDA Accountability Series as a priority citizen-engagement exercise and directed MMDCEs to personally lead the engagements and make appropriate budgetary arrangements within their approved budgets.
