He asked the MMDAs to also ensure prudent utilization of their Internally Generated Funds (IGFs) in addressing the emerging development needs of their respective communities.

Mr Benarkuu emphasised that the judicious utilization of the IGF’s for physical development would motivate the taxpayers to also honour their tax obligations.

He said the MMDAs ought to also be innovative in their IGF generation, urging taxpayers that the Assemblies required revenue to fund the execution of projects that would enhance their livelihoods.

Mr Benarkuu gave the advice when speaking at an interface meeting of the Social Audit Committee (SAC) of the Asunafo South District at Kukuom, the district capital in the Ahafo Region.

The meeting was attended by various Heads of Departments and Agencies, assembly members, chiefs and queens, security personnel, and Persons with Disabilities.

Their discussions were mostly centred on proffering solutions to some findings of the SAC in the execution of some physical projects by the Assembly.

The MIHOSO, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), set up the SACs as part of the implementation of Social Accountability for a Resilient Democracy project.

The project is being supported by the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

It is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with the Ghana’s Ministry of Finance.

Mr Benarkuu explained that the project was launched in 2025 and aimed at empowering the citizenry to actively participate in local governance and demand accountability from state and public actors.

It is geared towards strengthening the MMDAs engagement with the local communities and to enhance transparency and accountability.

Mr Benakuu indicated that the project was being implemented in the Dormaa West District and the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono as well as Asutifi North and Asunafo South Districts and Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Regions.

He said the implementation of the project was making impacts in the beneficiary district, saying that it had deepened the relations between the Assemblies and the SACs and the citizens.

Mr Benarkuu said key objectives of the project included promoting citizens participation in local governance, strengthening social accountability mechanisms as well as helping to increase the IGFs of the Assemblies and promoting transparency and revenue mobilization.

He urged the SAC and the people to be interested and monitor the execution of physical development projects and called on the traditional authorities to lead their people to undertake self-help development projects in the communities.

Mr Benarkuu added that if the communities undertake development projects, they will easily attract the support of the government and development partners.