The Effutu Municipal Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to transparent, accountable and participatory local governance as it engaged residents and stakeholders at an “Accounting to the People Forum” held at the Assemblies of God Church in Winneba.The town hall meeting provided an important platform for the Assembly to present updates on development projects and interventions across the Municipality, while giving residents the opportunity to question, seek clarification and make submissions on issues affecting their communities.The engagement brought together the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere; Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah; Omanhene of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII; Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Majeed Ayariga; Heads of Departments; community leaders; religious representatives and residents from communities across the Municipality.The programme was chaired by the Omanhene, Neenyi Ghartey VII, who guided the deliberations and provided a traditional leadership perspective on the development priorities and concerns of the people.Delivering the keynote address, the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, underscored the critical role of local government institutions in bringing governance, development and public services closer to citizens.He noted that sustainable development could not be achieved by government institutions working in isolation, stressing the need for effective collaboration among the Assembly, traditional authorities, religious institutions, community leaders and residents.According to him, local government succeeds when citizens take an active interest in the affairs of their communities and work together with public institutions to address local challenges.The Minister also highlighted the contribution of traditional and religious institutions to maintaining peace, strengthening social cohesion and supporting community development.He said the different institutions had distinct responsibilities but could make a greater contribution to the progress of the Municipality when their efforts were coordinated around common development objectives.A significant aspect of the Minister’s address centred on accountability for public development projects.Hon. Panyin Okyere urged the Municipal Assembly and the MCE to maintain clear and verifiable records of projects that had been completed, those currently ongoing, projects yet to commence and other interventions at various stages of implementation.He emphasised that accountability should go beyond presenting figures and descriptions, explaining that project information should be supported by appropriate documentation and evidence so that residents could independently appreciate the actual state of development interventions in their communities.Such an approach, he noted, would help strengthen public confidence, improve transparency and promote responsible management of public resources.The Minister therefore encouraged the Assembly to continue improving its documentation and communication systems to ensure that residents were kept adequately informed about the status and progress of development projects.Presenting the Assembly’s development activities, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah, outlined a range of projects and interventions undertaken across key sectors of the Municipality.The presentation covered education, health, legacy projects, sanitation, roads and other development initiatives, providing residents with an overview of interventions undertaken and priorities being pursued by the Assembly.In the education sector, the MCE highlighted interventions directed at improving educational infrastructure and creating a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.The health sector also featured prominently, with the Assembly outlining measures aimed at supporting health-related infrastructure and improving services available to residents.Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah also accounted for legacy projects and other infrastructure initiatives intended to address identified community needs and contribute to the Municipality’s long-term development.On sanitation, the Assembly presented interventions aimed at improving environmental cleanliness and sanitation conditions, while developments and planned interventions in the road sector were also highlighted.The presentation offered residents an opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the Assembly’s development agenda, the interventions being implemented and areas requiring sustained attention and support.The formal presentation gave way to an open forum in which residents engaged directly with the Central Regional Minister and the Municipal Chief Executive.Residents raised a range of concerns, requests, appeals and enquiries, bringing community-level challenges directly to the attention of the authorities.The open-floor session transformed the meeting from a conventional project briefing into a two-way accountability engagement, allowing residents not only to listen to government and Assembly officials but also to demand clarification on matters affecting their daily lives.Issues relating to development, infrastructure and service delivery formed part of the concerns raised, with participants seeking explanations and further information on matters of interest to their respective communities.The Central Regional Minister and the Municipal Chief Executive responded to the submissions and questions, providing clarification on the issues raised and taking note of matters requiring further attention.The interaction reinforced the value of direct communication between local authorities and the communities they serve.The Effutu “Accounting to the People” Forum demonstrated the growing importance of direct citizen engagement in local governance.Beyond the presentation of projects, the forum created space for dialogue, scrutiny and feedback, key elements in ensuring that development interventions remain responsive to the needs of local communities.For the Assembly, the engagement also provided an opportunity to explain its development priorities, communicate progress and listen to residents’ expectations.The involvement of traditional and religious leadership further underscored the importance of broad-based collaboration in addressing development challenges and maintaining social stability.The forum ultimately reinforced a central message: development is most effective when public institutions and the communities they serve maintain an open channel of communication and share responsibility for local progress.As Effutu continues to pursue improvements in infrastructure, education, health, sanitation, roads and other sectors, sustained engagement with residents will remain important in identifying priorities, monitoring implementation and ensuring that development responds to the realities on the ground.The meeting ended with renewed emphasis on continued dialogue, transparency, accountability and collaboration among the Assembly, traditional authorities, religious institutions, community leaders and residents in advancing the development of the Effutu Municipality.
Story By: Charles Baah Aboagye & Blessing Gadeka -ISD
Last modified: September 17, 2026
