The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has warned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) that their performance will be closely scrutinised as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery at the local level.
The Minister issued the warning during an assessment tour of selected Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region on June 9, 2026, where he engaged officials on governance, financial management, and development projects.
Mr. Ibrahim said assemblies would be evaluated on how they utilise public funds, manage inherited debts, increase internally generated funds (IGF), and implement development projects, stressing that local leaders must be accountable for resources entrusted to them under the government’s decentralisation agenda.
“We are giving your destiny into your hands. The resources are given to you. How do you spend them? Today, we are here to assess you,” he stated.
The tour took the Minister to the Ga West, Ga East, and Ga North Municipal Assemblies, where he met assembly officials and reviewed their performance against key governance and development indicators.
Mr. Ibrahim said one of the areas under assessment is the management and disbursement of funds allocated to persons with disabilities.
He noted that assemblies are required to set aside and utilise disability funds every quarter to support vulnerable groups and improve their livelihoods.
“We have come to assess this disability fund. Three percent for the first quarter, three percent for the second quarter, three percent for the third quarter, and three percent for the fourth quarter. How do you disburse it? How do you use it?” he asked.
The Minister further directed the assemblies to provide details on inherited debts, revenue mobilisation efforts, and the status of government projects within their jurisdictions.
“How much debt did you inherit? How much was your IGF in 2024, and how much is it in 2025? Has it gone up or down? Which inherited projects have you completed and which are still ongoing?” he queried.
According to Mr. Ibrahim, these indicators will form part of a broader performance assessment framework for MMDCEs aimed at ensuring that public resources translate into tangible benefits for local communities.
He emphasised that development should be driven by the needs and priorities of local people and not by decisions imposed from outside their communities.
“This is the simple reason why we are here—to put some sense of urgency in you and ensure that the resources entrusted to you benefit the people,” he added.
The assessment tour forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to monitor local governance performance and promote greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of public resources.
