Mahama Directs Local Government Ministry to Involve Chiefs in Monitoring Projects

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Local Government to establish a framework that will enable traditional rulers and district assemblies to jointly monitor government development projects across the country.

According to the President, the initiative is aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and effective delivery of critical infrastructure projects in various communities.

Speaking at an engagement with Northern Regional House of Chiefs, President Mahama said chiefs and local assemblies must work closely together through regular coordination meetings and project monitoring mechanisms to track the progress of government interventions.

“I’m therefore directing the Minister for Local Government — and the Minister is here — to create a framework where traditional rulers and district assemblies can meet occasionally to review the progress of work on critical infrastructure that government is undertaking in your various traditional areas and districts,” he stated.

The President stressed that district chief executives, assembly officials and traditional authorities should undertake joint visits to project sites to assess the quality of work and monitor implementation.

“There should be regular coordination meetings and project monitoring mechanisms where the district assemblies, district chief executives and the traditional rulers physically go to the sites of development projects to review the state of work and monitor the progress,” he added.

Mr. Mahama noted that involving traditional leaders in project supervision would help bridge the gap between projects announced and those successfully completed, while ensuring that communities derive full value from public investments.