Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, on Monday said government is determined to implement the Composite Budget concept to its logical conclusion, despite challenges.

He said notably among the setbacks, was the inability of the Central Government to realize financial resources for greater part of 2012.

Mr. Aidoo said these when he was opening the Regional Budget Hearing for 2013 Composite Budget of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region, in Takoradi.

He said: “We in this region remain committed to support this Government’s effort and it is in this direction that I entreat all Assemblies to take this exercise seriously”.

Mr. Aidoo said the proper execution of programmes and projects by MMDAS based on the implementation of the composite budget concept is a prerequisite for easy coordination and good governance.

He said it is also a prerequisite for the flow of financial resources from the Central Government to the MMDAs, and would contribute towards the improvement of service delivery capacity.

Mr. Aidoo said the Hearing provided the platform for the participants to discuss plans and estimates for the Assemblies, and to review the work of affected decentralized departments to ensure that their activities were in accordance with the Government’s macroeconomic policy framework, and that funds allocated would be used for national development.

Mr. Aidoo said the Hearing is also to ensure that stakeholders participated in the preparation of Composite Budget of their respective Assemblies and monitor the performance and implementation of plans and estimates.

Mr. David Yaro, Chief Director of the Regional Coordinating Council, said Composite Budget Hearing has come to stay, and it was compulsory for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Coordinating Directors and other staff of the assemblies to attend the hearing.