By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
Kuntanase (Ash), Nov. 27, GNA – The Ghana’s Strengthening Accountability and Mechanisms (GSAM) project being implemented in 50 selected districts across the country, has been hailed for increasing the participation of communities in the execution of projects at the local level.
Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the project seeks to strengthen citizens’ oversight of capital projects to improve transparency, accountability and performance at the local government level.
It is being implemented by a consortium comprising CARE International, Oxfam and the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) in collaboration with the Ghana Audit Service (GAS), beneficiary districts and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
Under the project, GAS selects two capital projects in each district and conduct performance audit on them with the goal of ascertaining whether the principles of due process and value for money, are upheld in the execution of the selected projects.
The audit focuses on four main areas including initiation and planning, procurement and contracting, project execution and benefits.
Findings of the audit would then be disseminated to all stakeholders at a town hall meeting with the aim of whipping up the interest of community members in project execution whiles also encouraging the assemblies to improve on shortcomings in subsequent projects.
It was at one of such town hall meetings organized by the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) at Kuntanase in the Bosomtwe District that stakeholders applauded the GSAM project as a laudable initiative.
Participants took turns to appreciate how they had been empowered to keenly monitor the progress of development projects in their localities following the implementation of the GSAM project.
They were of the conviction that the project would significantly reduce the execution of substandard projects by contractors since both the assemblies and citizens would step up their respective responsibilities.
The Bosomtwe District scored 58 per cent in the audit which was conducted on a three-unit classroom block at Jachie and three-unit teachers’ quarters at Woarakese.
Mr Charles Ansong, a Principal Auditor at GAS, who presented the findings. said the District Planning Coordinating Unit (DPCU) did not adequately monitor the two projects as some specifications were not followed by the contractors.
The Assembly, he said, followed due process in paying for the work done for both projects but the contingency amount paid to the contractor of the classroom project, was not duly documented.
“Successful bidders were written to and the successful contractors also wrote back to the Assembly to accept the offer. However, the Assembly did not notify unsuccessful bidders of the biding outcome”, Mr Ansong said.
Mr Joseph Kwasi Asuming, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said it is imperative for the public to be involved in the planning and execution of projects in their communities as beneficiaries.
He said the Assembly is the custodian of resources on behalf of the people and that development of the district was a collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
GNA
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