Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, **Ahmed Ibrahim**, has called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to intensify efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and active citizen participation in local governance.
Speaking in Sunyani at the Bono Regional Coordinating Council (BRCC), Mr. Ibrahim emphasised that effective community engagement helps ensure development initiatives meet real local needs, boosts public confidence, attracts development partners, and accelerates national progress.
The directive came during an assessment visit with representatives from the **State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland** (SECO) and Germany’s **Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau** (KfW) to evaluate the District Assemblies Common Fund–Responsiveness Factor Grant (DACF-RFG) Programme in the Bono Region.
Mr. Ibrahim, who also serves as MP for the Banda Constituency, urged MMDAs to uphold fiscal discipline, ensure value for money, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms. He highlighted that adherence to guidelines and feedback from stakeholders are critical to improving service delivery and attracting investment.
Bono Regional Minister **Joseph Addae Akwaboa** commended SECO’s support for decentralisation reforms and praised the DACF-RFG Programme for promoting performance, transparency, and results-oriented governance. He noted that the programme prioritises projects carefully selected to meet the specific needs of local communities.
The visit underscores the government’s continued commitment to empowering local authorities and ensuring that citizens play an active role in shaping development outcomes.
