By Albert Allotey, GNA
Accra, Aug. 11, GNA – Mr Alfred Asiedu Adjei, the President of the National Association of Local Government Association of Ghana (NALAG) has called on Assembly Members to ensure that resources allocated to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), are translated into meaningful development.
He said the principle of “funds must follow functions should go hand in hand with accountability,” adding, that, “where funds go, accountability must follow.”
Mr Adjei charged Assembly Members to keep a close watch on public funds allocated to MMDAs to ensure that the resources translated into meaningful development.
Mr Adjei made the call in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra at the end of a two-day workshop in Kumasi organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Institute of Local Government Studies and NALAG.
The workshop brought together assembly members, presiding members, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, coordinating directors and other stakeholders in local governance.
He urged Assembly Members to take an active interest in the finances and development activities of their respective assemblies rather than limiting their roles to attending meetings and approving official documents.
He said Assembly Members must know their assembly’s budget, annual action plan, allocations, releases and projects and should monitor the implementation of those projects to ensure that they deliver value to residents.
“Have the eagle eye,” the NALAG President told the Assembly Members, while urging them to scrutinise financial documents, understand project allocations and seek explanations where funds or projects did not appear to be achieving their intended purposes.
Mr Adjei said where projects were delayed or resources were not being used as intended, assembly members had a responsibility to raise questions through the appropriate channels.
The NALAG President cited 2026 allocation figures presented at the workshop, indicating that the MMDAs Direct Allocation stood at approximately GH¢7.934 billion, representing about 90.47 per cent of the total fund.
He said the critical issue was not only the size of the allocation, but what the money ultimately delivered to communities.
He questioned whether citizens could point to improved roads, schools, sanitation facilities, health services, markets, water projects and economic opportunities as evidence of the effective use of public resources.
Mr Adjei reminded stakeholders that public funds belonged to the people and were entrusted to public officials for the delivery of services and development.
He said public resources did not belong to MMDCEs, assembly members, coordinating directors, finance officers or political parties, stressing that every cedi must be accounted for.
He further urged assembly members not to allow political affiliation, personal relationships or fear to prevent them from raising legitimate concerns about issues affecting their constituents.
He said the needs of citizens should remain at the centre of local governance, irrespective of political differences, stating that problems such as poor roads, flooding, inadequate infrastructure and poor sanitation affected citizens regardless of their political affiliation.
He, therefore, urged assembly members to put the interests of their constituents and the national interest ahead of partisan considerations in the discharge of their duties.
The NALAG President called on stakeholders to strengthen on their oversight responsibilities to ensure that public funds entrusted to MMDAs were invested into tangible development for the people.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah