Yendi Citizens educated on financial decentralization

Some residents of the Yendi Municipality have benefited from a financial decentralization training aimed at strengthening their knowledge on composite budgeting.

The 126 participants gained a deep knowledge on budget planning, financial reporting and auditing in a more comprehensive manner, which covered every aspect and activities of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The Northern Development Society (NORDESO) an NGO organized the programme in collaboration with the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) under the Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (SPEFA) Project.

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is implementing SPEFA to strengthen intergovernmental fiscal framework, local public financial management and accountability for improved infrastructure and services in urban assemblies.

Other objectives include improving citizens’ engagement with urban assemblies and their perceptions of urban management.

The Local Government Ministry, together with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, developed a template for MMDAs to assist them in communicating public financial management information in a simplified manner to ordinary citizens.

The one day forum, which focused on educating the participants on fiscal decentralization on composite budget process, was on the theme: “Local stimulating demand for accountable local governance and service delivery”.

Mr Jacob Mansu, Project Coordinator of NORDESO, said fiscal decentralization was necessary in ensuring good governance and that it was one of the main components of the decentralization policy of Ghana.

He explained that composite budget was a major reform towards ensuring that resources were available for the functions that had been transferred to MMDAs and for improving their efficiency and accountability.