The Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Rural Development has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to show firm leadership in managing their assemblies and safeguarding public funds.
At a public hearing in Accra, the Chairperson of the Committee and MP for Agona East, Maame Pokuah Queenstar Sawyerr, cautioned the Denkyira East Municipal Chief Executive, George Anane, not to allow himself to be manipulated by his officers. Her comments followed the last-minute withdrawal of the Coordinating Director from appearing before the Committee.
“You should be firm. And if you think they are not helping you, from here let me know, so that we make changes to enable you succeed with all the money that is sent to your district,” she told him.
The Committee assured MMDCEs that Parliament would back them if they encountered internal resistance from officers within their assemblies.
Opening the hearings, Hon. Sawyerr stressed the importance of addressing internal audit findings promptly instead of leaving them unresolved until external auditors step in. She called on assemblies and coordinating councils to take audits seriously in order to protect the public purse and ensure funds allocated for development reach communities.
She also urged stronger collaboration between internal and external auditors, noting that every cedi allocated to assemblies must be properly accounted for.
A member of the Committee, Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, MP for Daffiama Bussie Issa, explained that the mandate of the Committee was to examine challenges facing assemblies in implementing government projects. He clarified that their work was distinct from that of the Public Accounts or Government Assurances Committees.
The Committee has already engaged assemblies from the Greater Accra Region and is continuing its hearings with assemblies in the Central Region.
