Regional News of Monday, 18 January 2016

Source: GNA

MCE calls for public demand of accountability

Mr Kwabena Nkansah Asare, Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has urged the citizenry to demand for social accountability in public expenditure on development projects.

He said the concept of social and public financial accountability empowers the people to actively participate in monitoring government’s spending on projects so as to reduce poverty and waste in investment.

Mr Asare gave the advice when he addressed a public forum organised by the Assembly to make it accountable to the citizenry on projects undertaken in the areas of agriculture, security, health, among others.

He said to help complement government’s extensive policy to expand access to healthcare in the country, the Municipal Health Insurance Authority in 2014 and 2015 embarked on biometric registration and registered more than 66,000 active members.

He said the Assembly made free supply of 4,000 bags of cocoa fertilisers, 200 liquid fertilisers, 59 cartons of insecticides, 30 cartons of Akatse power and a number of fungicides to farmers.

Mr Asare gave the assurance that the construction of the rice production industry is on the Assembly's budget, whilst training of agriculture extension officers on modernisation of farming would take off, to avoid post-harvest loss.

He lauded the security agencies for helping to reduce crime in the area.

Mr Asare said during the Functional Organisation Assessment Tool in 2013 the Assembly was adjudged the best in the provision of development projects and prudent finances and an amount of GH?2,049,865 was allocated to it.

He said the amount would be disbursed on projects like the construction of markets sheds, pavement and three water closets toilets and a urinal at the Akim Oda main market, the construction of 40 stores with passengers’ waiting lounge at Nkwantanum market, construction of a three-storey students hostel and rehabilitation of roads.

The MCE appealed to the chiefs of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area to find solution to the chieftaincy disputes that is lingering among them.