The Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government concluded its nationwide public hearings on the 2024 Internal Audit reports of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) from all 16 regions last Friday.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Maame Pokuah Sawyer commended the various Assemblies for their cooperation but cautioned them against submitting fake or outdated documents during future exercises.
“This exercise serves as a warning to all of you, including the technocrats. Some of you present fake or outdated documents — this will not be tolerated next time,” she said.
In her concluding remarks, she urged the Assemblies to focus on completing ongoing and abandoned legacy projects before embarking on new ones. She noted that the directive aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for prudent use of public funds, adding that over 80 percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is released to support development at the local level.
She also reminded the Assemblies to strictly comply with Article 92(1) of the Public Financial Management Act and the approved DACF disbursement formula to promote transparency and accountability in financial management.
The Committee, which has oversight over decentralization, rural development, and local governance, expressed appreciation to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that honoured their invitations and cooperated throughout the hearings. It reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the efficient management of local resources and strengthening the delivery of services at the grassroots level.
Hon. Sawyer also disclosed that the Committee would soon undertake field inspections in selected districts to verify claims made during the hearings and assess the real state of development projects on the ground.
“The visits will help us assess progress and ensure that funds allocated are being used for their intended purposes,” she emphasized.