By Agbaxode Emmanuel
Akatsi (V/R), Oct. 30, GNA – The Akatsi South Municipal Assembly is set to extend its town hall and public accountability engagements to all four Zonal Councils within the municipality to deepen citizen participation and improve responsiveness to local development needs.
The initiative is expected to bring governance discussions closer to residents, giving them opportunities to raise concerns, seek clarification on development interventions, and contribute to decisions affecting their communities.
Mr Daniel Dagba, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), announced the Assembly’s commitment to strengthening public accountability during a town hall meeting held at the Assembly Hall.
Addressing participants, he said the meeting formed part of the Assembly’s commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen participation in local governance.
Mr Dagba noted that the Assembly’s responsibility extended beyond planning and implementing development projects to accounting to residents for its decisions, use of public resources, progress of programmes and challenges encountered in delivering essential services.
He identified road and infrastructure development, sanitation, agriculture, local economic development, education, healthcare, security and social protection as key priorities of the Assembly.
The MCE acknowledged that many communities continued to face challenges, including poor road accessibility, inadequate infrastructure, drainage and flooding problems, sanitation concerns, and limited access to basic services.
According to him, addressing those challenges required effective planning, adequate resources, collaboration with development partners, and active citizen participation.
Mr Dagba encouraged residents to take a greater interest in local governance by attending community meetings, raising concerns through appropriate channels, protecting public facilities, and paying approved rates and fees to support development initiatives.
He assured participants that concerns raised during the engagement would receive the necessary attention, explaining that issues requiring further consultation, technical assessment or funding would be referred to the appropriate departments for consideration and advice.
Mr Dagba, however, appealed to residents to appreciate the Assembly’s resource constraints and support efforts to prioritise the municipality’s most pressing development needs.
He emphasised that accountability should not be regarded as a one-off exercise but sustained through continuous communication, responsible leadership, prudent management of public funds, and effective monitoring of development programmes.
The MCE called on heads of departments, Assembly Members, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to work together to ensure that recommendations from the meeting received the necessary follow-up action.
The town hall meeting formed part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between the Assembly and residents by providing a platform for citizens to participate in local governance, demand accountability and contribute to the municipality’s development agenda.
Discussions focused on several development concerns, including the poor state of roads within the Akatsi township, healthcare delivery, education, revenue mobilisation, infrastructure development and other essential municipal services.
Participants used the occasion to seek answers and draw the Assembly’s attention to challenges confronting residents, while calling for practical interventions to address the municipality’s development needs.
Mr Issah Umar, the Municipal Coordinating Director, announced that the engagement would be replicated across all four Zonal Councils to ensure that communities outside the municipal capital also had the opportunity to engage directly with the Assembly on issues affecting them.
The meeting brought together heads of departments and agencies, traditional authorities, transport unions, members of the clergy, political representatives, Assembly Members and other community stakeholders.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Agbaxode Emmanuel
Email: [email protected]