Improving Local Governance & Accountability Mechanisms project meeting – Asutifi North District

SMAid in collaboration with Star Ghana have staged a meeting in the Asutifi North District, Brong Ahafo region for the “Improve Local Governance and Accountability Mechanisms (ILGAM) project”.

The meeting was graced by the District Coordinating Director, Executives of SMAid, Traditional Leaders, Youth leaders, Assembly members and the Media.

According to a member of SMAid,Gilbert Asante, the purpose of the initiative is enable the residents who pay taxes to the assembly to get proper accountability concerning projects undertaken by the assembly.

He said, most people have the perception that the assemblies in the country misuse funds given to them to make their lives better so SMAid took upon itself to establish the initiative to enhance tax payment.

Asante explained, avenues will be put in place to make the people approach the assemblies to get the details of projects put up by the assemblies.

The District Coordinating Director, Padmore Mensah said the initiative will go a long way to help the assembly and the people since the people will be able to know the funds per projects and also to put the assembly on it toes.

He said the District is blessed to have such initiative because of the prevalent negative perception residents have of the application of their paid taxes. By providing transparent accounting of applied taxes, the Direction believes that it will encourage residents to pay their taxes more frequently and willingly.

At the meeting, presentations were made by Asante Gilbert and Nana Ama Tiwaa-Boateng, members of SMAid. An open forum was granted as well as the creation of a 9 member district steering committee.