Impact of government interventions vital – Dr. Nsoh

Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh, Upper East Regional Minister, says the municipal and district assemblies do a disservice to people in the region when they fail to appropriate funds for the purpose for which they are meant for.

He said interventions by government implemented through municipal and district assemblies for the citizenry are their fundamental rights and therefore they must continuously demand and hold duty bearers accountable.

Dr Nsoh made these remarks at a Regional Development Dialogue on the theme: “Promotion of greater transparency in the development process at the district level,” organised by the Social Accountability Unit of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD).

The Minister expressed dissatisfaction about the poor performance of the assemblies and lackadaisical attitude of some staff of the decentralised departments and said stakeholders have a duty to ensure efficiency and accountability of funds.

The regional dialogue attracted state and non-state actors such as civil society organisations, decentralised departments, the media and traditional authorities from Bolgatanga and Bawku Municipalities.

The participants got the opportunity to hear the 2014 action plans and budget information of the two assemblies

Mrs Irene Mensiba, an official of the MLGRD presenting the report of a survey on citizens’ perceptions of the local government system conducted by the Ministry acknowledged that budgets and financial audits are not reader friendly.

She said it also requires that financial management and social accountability issues of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) need to be beefed up.

She said the report indicated that the citizenry perceive that assemblies’ programmes and actions are shrouded in secrecy and, therefore, provide little opportunity for them to demand accountability.

Mrs Mensiba said people have the right to know what happens at their assemblies.

The survey was conducted in the 10 regions, where 3, 678 households were randomly selected from 172 enumeration areas in 23 assemblies, which benefited from the Urban Development Grants.

She indicated that the report revealed that there was widespread dissatisfaction of the citizenry with the way assembly officials responded to citizens enquiries on services.

Mrs Mensiba said 49 per cent of the sampled population indicated dissatisfaction, 22 per cent of respondents indicated some level of satisfaction with responsiveness of MMDAs to their enquiries.

On knowledge of key officials of the assemblies, only 17 per cent indicated that they knew their district chief executive and assembly member while 47 knew the assembly member and only three knew only the municipal chief Executive only.

She said new templates have been developed with pictorial presentations for all citizens; literates and illiterates alike to understand programmes, actions, budgets and to enhance reportage of issues of the assemblies, which would also help them to demand accountability.