By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Tanoso, (Ahafo), Sept. 18, GNA – A delegation from the German government has paid a historic visit to the Tano North Municipality in the Ahafo Region, engaging local partners working to promote good governance and local accountability in the municipality.Â
The delegation comprised representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
According to Mr Bosse Alexander Klama, Communications, GIZ Ghana their visit aimed to observe first-hand how citizens in the Municipality were organised to monitor the activities and performance of local authorities in the implementation of public physical infrastructure projects.
MIHOSO International Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with support from the GIZ is implementing the Social Accountability for Resilient Democracy (SARD) project.
SARD is a project under the GIZ’s Participation, Accountability, And Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme.
It seeks to strengthen the capacities of public institutions in Ghana to effectively implement citizen-oriented, trustworthy and accountable governance at national and local levels.
The PAIReD programme was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Cooperation (SECO).
It is being implemented by GIZ in partnership with the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ghana.
The delegation interacted with the Social Audit Committee (SAC), established in early 2026 through the efforts of the MIHOSO as well as some key personnel of the Municipal Assembly and residents of Tanoso.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a forum at Tanoso, Alhaji Abubakar Musah, the Tano North Municipal Coordinating Director lauded the project execution and the formation of SAC.
The composition of the five-member SAC comprised Assembly Members, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and citizen groups.
He emphahised that the committee was playing an important role, serving as a bridge and dialoguing between the assembly and the citizenry in addressing the emerging needs of the local communities.
Alhaji Musah reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to addressing the development challenges confronting the local communities, saying that the committee had played a vital role in the monitoring and execution of physical development projects.
He commended the German government for the project and expressed the hope that Ghana’s bilateral relations with Germany would be strengthened to facilitate accelerated development in the local communities.
Mr McCarthy John Aggrey, a PwD and the Secretary to the SAC, indicated that through the committee, the assembly had completed and handed over for use, 11 development projects in the health and education sectors.
He said through SAC’s efforts, the municipal assembly had also integrated a ‘maintenance funds’ in its 2027 Budget towards the maintenance of physical infrastructure development facilities.
Mr Thomas Benarkuu, the Chief Executive Officer of MIHOSO noted that through regular project monitoring, evidence-based reporting, and dialogue with duty bearers, the SAC had enhanced public oversight of development interventions.
The SAC encourages the efficient and effective use of public resources.
Mr Benarkuu explained MIHOSO was executing the SARD project in Asutifi North District, Asunafo South District, and Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region as well as Sunyani West Municipality and Dormaa West District of the Bono Region.
The 12-months project seeks to promote citizens participation in local governance, empower them to demand accountability from local government/public actors at the district levels and as well as to support implementing district assemblies to boost their revenues through internally generated funds (IGF).Â
GNAÂ
Reporter: Dennis Peprah /Kenneth Odeng AdadeÂ
Email: [email protected]Â