The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has issued a stern warning to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country to put public funds to work and accelerate development in their jurisdictions.
The Minister expressed disappointment at what he described as the slow pace of development despite significant resources allocated to local assemblies through the District Assemblies Common Fund and Internally Generated Funds.
Mr. Ibrahim made the remarks during a working tour of the Ayawaso West, Ayawaso North, Ayawaso Central and Ayawaso East Municipal Assemblies in the Greater Accra Region. The visit forms part of an ongoing nationwide assessment exercise aimed at evaluating projects undertaken by assemblies and promoting accountability in local governance.
Accompanied by the Deputy Minister, Chief Director and other technical officials, the Minister inspected a number of development projects and reviewed the utilisation of public funds across the assemblies.
At several of the assemblies visited, the Minister raised concerns over the management of funds earmarked for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), stressing that the allocations must be used strictly for their intended purpose. He cautioned assembly officials against diverting or delaying the disbursement of the funds and urged them to ensure transparency in their administration.
In Ayawaso Central, Mr. Ibrahim directed the Municipal Finance Officer to submit detailed documentation explaining how more than GH¢400,000 allocated for persons with disabilities had been spent.
The Minister emphasized that local assemblies would be expected to account for every cedi entrusted to them and challenged officials to demonstrate tangible results within a year of assuming office.
“Stop sitting on funds meant for development. The people expect to see projects and services that improve their lives,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, urged the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly to take steps toward constructing its own office complex to reduce expenditure on rent.
She expressed concern that the Assembly continues to spend approximately $12,000 every month on rented office accommodation, describing the situation as unsustainable and a drain on public resources that could otherwise be invested in permanent infrastructure.
The Minister indicated that the monitoring exercise will continue across the country as part of efforts to strengthen accountability, ensure prudent use of public resources and accelerate local development.
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