The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, accompanied by his Deputy Minister and a team from the Ministry, paid a working visit to the Ga West Municipal Assembly on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, to assess the Assembly’s performance, accountability, and utilization of government resources.

Addressing staff and management of the Assembly, the Minister Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim explained that the visit formed part of a nationwide assessment exercise aimed at evaluating how Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are managing public resources and delivering services to their communities.

He noted that government had increased the share of the District Assemblies Common Fund allocated to MMDAs from 47.5 percent to 80.3 percent to strengthen local development and improve service delivery. According to him, the increase in funding comes with a greater responsibility to ensure transparency, accountability, and value for money in the execution of development projects.

“The government gives you the resources to undertake development projects, and we will come and assess what has been done with those resources,” he stated.

The Minister stressed that the assessment would focus on projects inherited from previous administrations, ongoing initiatives, and newly executed projects. He emphasized the need for Assembly officials to provide accurate data and evidence of work completed, adding that the exercise was not based on subjective judgement but on measurable performance indicators supported by technology.

He further reminded staff that local government exists to serve the people and that all development interventions must have a direct impact on the lives of residents.

The Deputy Minister, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah in her remarks, underscored the importance of teamwork and accountability in local governance. She explained that the Ministry’s objective was to determine whether Assemblies were effectively serving their communities and ensuring that no officer was undermining the delivery of services to the public.

She assured staff that good performance would be recognized while shortcomings would be addressed to improve service delivery.

As part of the programme, the Municipal Planning Officer, Mrs. Cynthia Bonsah, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the state of the municipality and the Assembly’s development interventions.

She highlighted key demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the municipality, noting that Ga West Municipality has approximately 87 major communities and continues to experience rapid population growth.

Mrs. Bonsah outlined several projects undertaken by the Assembly, including the construction of classroom blocks, road infrastructure, office facilities, mechanized boreholes, rehabilitation of public facilities damaged by fire, and other community development projects. She also indicated that the Assembly had invested in improving access to potable water and other essential social services to enhance the living conditions of residents.

The presentation further provided updates on legacy projects inherited by the current administration, the status of implementation of ongoing projects, and the Assembly’s efforts to ensure prudent financial management and effective utilization of public funds.

 The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga West, Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai, in his remarks reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to excellence and accountability. He assured the Minister and his delegation that management and staff would continue to work diligently to meet the expectations of the Ministry and the people of Ga West.

Hon. Sowah Nai emphasized that the Assembly would not tolerate mediocrity and would remain focused on improving service delivery, completing ongoing projects, and ensuring value for money in all development initiatives.

The assessment exercise formed part of the Ministry’s broader effort to strengthen local governance, promote accountability, and improve development outcomes across the country.

SOURCE: DORCAS ASANTEWAA OSEI ISD-GWMA.