Akatsi North Assembly institutes public accounts hearing

The Akatsi North District Assembly in the Volta Region has instituted a public accounts hearing for public officials, departments and organisations to render account of their stewardship so far, to the people.

The process is in accordance with the promise by the government to govern the nation on four pillars which include the running of a transparent and accountable government.

It is expected that projects and financial and audit issues shall be discussed and the people be offered the opportunity to ask questions at the public hearing.

The Akatsi North District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr James Gunu, announced this at the first ordinary meeting of the third session of the first assembly at Ave-Dakpa.

He said the objective was to build trust and confidence in the assembly system and to ensure transparent and accountable system at the local level.

Suggestion box concept

It will be recalled that the Akatsi North District Assembly introduced the suggestion box concept into the assembly system and the concept is yielding good results, since it has given room for local content in the decisions of the assembly.

The DCE also appealed to assembly members to hold town hall meetings to give added meaning to the development in their various communities.

Financial position of assembly

On the financial position of the assembly, he announced that the assembly had exceeded its revenue target by 47.66 per cent because it was able to generate GH¢96, 589 far above the  GH¢65,415 that was projected for 2013.

Mr Gunu said the assembly intended to invest in an affordable housing project on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis adding that 50 semi-detached houses had been earmarked for construction under the first phase for one hundred workers at an estimated cost of GH¢5,000,000.

On electoral areas, he disclosed that a proposal had been made to the Electoral Commission(EC) and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development(MLGRD) for the re-demarcation of existing 12 electoral areas to 22, adding that this was in consonance with the first pillar on a people-centred government.

Mr Gunu reminded the people that as the nation had celebrated 57 years of independence and sovereignty, it was pertinent for each citizen to assume that freedom was a living flame to be constantly fuelled and not a monument to be saluted.

“Ghana’s freedom must be fuelled by all governments and our people because it defines our humanity,” he stressed.

He announced that tenders had been opened for 15 projects to be awarded on contract to be funded with the  assembly’s share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and the Member of Parliament(MP) fund while five of the 13 projects awarded last year had been completed and handed over to the district assembly.