The Akuapem South Municipal Assembly has engaged residents on development projects, public spending and service delivery as part of efforts to strengthen local accountability.
The town hall meeting, held at the Presbyterian Church at Pokrom, was on the theme: “Decentralisation, Accountability and Participatory Development.”
Mr Paul Osae Offei, Municipal Chief Executive, said the meeting allowed the Assembly to explain government programmes and receive residents’ concerns, suggestions and contributions.
He explained that local governance was intended to bring decision-making closer to residents and enable them to contribute to the development of their communities.
Mr Offei said the engagement was not based on political party affiliation and urged residents to set aside their differences and support the municipality’s development.
Officials from the Education, Security, Health, Fiscal Planning, Agriculture, Right to Information and Planning departments briefed participants on their activities, projects and programmes.
They also outlined challenges facing the Assembly and their respective sectors.
The MCE expressed concern over the increasing incidence of illegal sand winning in parts of the municipality.
He said the activity damaged the environment and affected the natural structure and porosity of the soil.
Mr Offei urged those involved to stop and warned that offenders could face legal action.
Turning to development projects, the MCE said the Assembly had rehabilitated and completed several facilities while securing additional projects under the government’s Big Push programme.
He reported that the Assembly placed third among 33 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the District Assemblies Performance Assessment Tool assessment.
Mr Offei said the performance helped the municipality secure additional government funding for development projects, including a health post and six-unit classroom block.
Under its legacy projects, he said, the Assembly had refurbished an abandoned stall facility for rental to GCB Bank.
The Assembly had also completed a six-unit, two-storey classroom block with two offices at Aburi Demonstration School, with plans for further development.
Mr Offei disclosed that a school building at Otopayaw was ready for commissioning, while other completed projects had been handed over to beneficiary communities.
The Assembly assured residents of its commitment to transparency, accountability and participatory governance.
It encouraged them to continue engaging local authorities and supporting development initiatives across the municipality.
Some participants interviewed by the Ghana News Agency welcomed the meeting, saying it had brought local governance closer to residents.
They said the engagement had also helped them understand that tax revenue supported the provision of social amenities across the municipality.
