The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has challenged the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to ensure value for money, complete ongoing projects and demonstrate the impact of public spending on the lives of residents.
He said local authorities had a responsibility to ensure that resources allocated for development translated into tangible benefits for communities, particularly in education, healthcare, sanitation and road infrastructure.
Mr Atanga made the call at an accounting-to-the-people session in Bolgatanga, where the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Roland Atanga Ayoo, presented an account of the assembly’s stewardship and development interventions.
The minister also urged residents to take an active interest in the work of the assembly by demanding answers from duty-bearers on the use of public funds and the progress of development projects.
He stressed the importance of public scrutiny in promoting transparency and accountability at the local level, saying residents must be able to assess the performance of their leaders against the development needs of their communities.
Mr Atanga further urged the assembly to ensure that ongoing projects were completed and that public investments delivered the intended outcomes.
Projects
His call placed the focus on project delivery, prudent use of public resources and the need for local authorities to account to the people they serve.
Presenting his account, Mr Ayoo said the assembly had undertaken projects in education, health, water and sanitation, roads and social protection to improve living conditions in the municipality.
On education, he said a two-unit classroom block, a four-seater KVIP toilet facility and a two-unit urinal had been constructed at Yorogo.
He said 896 pieces of furniture had also been provided for distribution to schools to address the problem of pupils sitting on floors and sharing desks.
A junior high school block, together with urinal and washroom facilities, had also been constructed at Agusi with zCommon Fund.
In the health sector, Mr Ayoo said the assembly had constructed Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds at Sawaba and Tanzui and rehabilitated the health centre at Daporitindongo.
A health facility at Kolibia, supported by the Social Cohesion (SOCO) project, had also been completed, inaugurated and handed over to the community.
Social support
On water and sanitation, the MCE said 20 boreholes had been drilled in various communities, while six major and four minor sanitation exercises had been undertaken.
Ten refuse dumps had also been evacuated and public toilets at the Bolgatanga Market rehabilitated.
He said the assembly had opened roads at Bukere, Durongo, Sumburungu and Yorogo, constructed a culvert at Sumburungu-Nayere, repaired a damaged culvert at Hippala and desilted the Tindon-Molgo Dam.
Under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, 1,128 beneficiaries had received GH¢3.14 million, he said.
An additional GH¢223,732.22 had been disbursed to 105 persons who are challenged and five organisations to support education, healthcare and income-generating activities.
Mr Ayoo reaffirmed the assembly’s commitment to local development and encouraged residents to visit its offices for information on projects and expenditure.
