GA WEST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY HOLDS TRAINING WORKSHOP ON 2027–2030 COMPOSITE BUDGET

The Ga West Municipal Assembly has organized a one-day training workshop to prepare key stakeholders for the development of the 2027–2030 Composite Budget. The workshop, held on Tuesday, 4th August 2026 at the municipal assembly hall, aimed to strengthen the capacity of departments and units to participate effectively in the budget preparation process and to enhance planning, budgeting, and financial management within the Assembly.

The training brought together the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai; the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Mrs Louisa Benon, Departmental Heads, Zonal Council Administrators, and Zonal Council Treasurers.
In her opening remarks, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mrs Louisa Benon, outlined the objectives and structure of the workshop, explaining that it was designed to equip stakeholders with the knowledge required to prepare the 2027–2030 Composite Budget. She highlighted key areas of focus, including third-party co-funding arrangements and the importance of coordinated departmental planning.

Addressing participants, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai, emphasized the importance of the Composite Budget as a key planning and development tool. He encouraged departments to understand the budgeting process thoroughly so they could effectively identify and plan their specific needs, manage costs efficiently, and achieve their targets over the medium-term planning period without resorting to last-minute budget requests.He further urged participants to actively engage throughout the workshop by asking questions and sharing ideas that would contribute to improving the Assembly's budgeting process.

During a presentation delivered by the Municipal Planning Officer, Mrs Cynthia Bonsah took participants through the preparation of the Annual Action Plan. She outlined the key steps, timelines, and responsibilities involved in developing a results-based Annual Action Plan, stressing the need for departmental activities to align with the Ga West Municipal Assembly's Medium-Term Development Plan and relevant national policy guidelines.

Mrs. Bonsah explained that a well-prepared Annual Action Plan serves as a strategic roadmap for implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and resource allocation throughout the fiscal year. She encouraged departments to develop SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) targets and realistic implementation timelines to improve service delivery and achieve measurable development outcomes.
A presentation was also made by the Municipal Budget Officer, Madam Mary Acquah, who delivered a presentation on the application of third-party codes in the Assembly's financial management system and the budget guidelines for preparing the 2027–2030 Composite Budget.

Madam Acquah explained that the correct application of third-party codes is essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and effective tracking of payments made to vendors, service providers, and statutory institutions. According to her, proper adherence to the coding system would enhance the Assembly's financial reporting and strengthen audit processes.
She also guided participants through the budget preparation guidelines, highlighting the importance of aligning departmental activities with the Medium-Term Development Plan, preparing realistic revenue projections, prioritizing projects based on available resources, and submitting departmental budget inputs promptly to the Budget Unit.

Participants actively participated in discussions, seeking clarification on issues relating to budget ceilings, Internally Generated Funds (IGF) mobilization, expenditure control, and other aspects of the budgeting process.
In her closing remarks, Madam Mary Acquah encouraged all departments to uphold financial discipline and work closely with the Budget and Finance Units to ensure the successful implementation of planned programmes and projects.

The workshop concluded successfully, providing participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to enhance planning, budgeting, and financial management within the Assembly. It is expected to strengthen institutional capacity, improve service delivery, and support the effective implementation of development programmes across the Ga West Municipality.

Kenneth Ngenyam Gmalu, ISD-GWMA