The 2024-2027 composite budget presentation process has instigated
in earnest and in line with regulation 17(3) of the public finance
management regulation, 2019, L12378 and local government ACT (936)
section (122) and (123), also the PFM 2016 ACT 921, SECTION 21.
Everything is mandatory, the DFM regulatory 2019 line 23(78)
regulation 17(3) mandate the regional coordinating councils to organize
budget hearings for all covered entities including MMDAs.
Regional budget hearings are being organized for all 261 metropolitan
municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the 16 regions across the
country. The zone 1 of western regional composite budget hearing
programme was held on 18 th October 2023, at the Prestea Huni-valley
municipal assembly conference hall – Bogoso. The MMDAs in the
western region were grouped into three zones and PHMA happened to
be the host Assembly for zone 1 which comprises of Wassa Amenfi
East, Wassa Amenfi West, Amenfi Central, Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea
Huni-valley Municipal Assembly (the host).
The MCE, Hon. Isaac Dasmani (PhD), in his address stated that in every
year, budget hearings are organized at the regional level for the
MMDAs to present their individual assembly budget for them to be scrutinized before they approved and submitted to the ministry of
finance. The practice over the year has been that all the MMDAs in
each region normally gather in their regional capital in doing the
presentation. Meanwhile, as part of the effort to bring the hearings
closer to the people and make them more participatory, MMDAs in
each of the 16 regions of the country have been grouped to have the
hearings as selected MMDAs instead of the various regional capitals. I
think it is a good initiative as it will allow more people at the district
capitals to also observe the ceremony. He suggested that it should
continue and probably rotated to all afford MMDAs in the region to
host the programme in the coming years. He pinpoints that they should
all be scrutinizing the draft budget to ensure that they are examined to
be approved for submission to the finance minister.
Madam Akua Animwaa Owusu Asamoah a rep from the ministry of
finance (Accra), in her address pinpoint that the final stage of the
budget pressuring process is now underway simultaneously in all the 16
regions including all the 261 MMDAs, the ministry deeply values your
dedications and contributions to the budget process and encourage you
to maintain the same level of cooperation during the budget
implementation fixed your commitment is greatly appreciated.
She talked about the economic challenge in this era, that the government has embark on the journey that will fundamentally reposition that economic transformation which the IMF supported post covid 19 programme for economic growth, it is not to suggest that they have come over all the challenges, the commitment made under the fund stated widespread contributions and sacrifices which will entitle cost in terms of physical adjustment they plan to implement this year and the years ahead. This measures are essential to maintain the stability, facilitate recovery and ultimately dry our economic transformation. There is a need to work together and prioritize to improve revenue mobilization and physical management. Implementation of revenue action plans and activities in the
rehabilitation, there is a need for successful implementation role potential to significantly enhance revenue mobilization for our District
Assemblies.
Therefore, she encourages the budget committee to explore innovative
strategy and corresponding activities that will aid them attaining their
shared objectives. Furthermore, the MMDCDs should take the needing
advance initiative for improve revenue mobilization, they must ensure
that while the General Assembly approve the by-laws and rate impose
are gazette to provide the necessary legal foundation and enforcing complaint and pursuing legal actions against the defaulters.
Strengthening of our sub structure, the sub structures have been established by law to execute the delegated functions on behave of the
District Assembly. It is imperative to activate the reinforcement of this
structures and ensuring that they are fully operational to strengthen
revenue mobilization effort and effectively carry out their delegated
responsibilities, followed the process and implementation of approved
budget, it is crucial to emphasis that, the use of district financial is not just a mere suggestion but a legal requirement stated in section 25(6) at the PFM ACT 2016 (9-1).
Therefore, it takes upon the MMDCDs and MMDAs to ensure that all
budgetary and financial transactions are executed through the system to scrutinize reporting and enable prompt decision making.
Hon. Dr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah the regional minister started by saying, since the 12 th year, the exception of the public budget hearings at the MMDAs levels, budget preparation and regional budget hearings are statutory requirement placed on all MMDAs and local government ACT (936) section (122) and (123), also the PFM 2016 ACT 921, SECTION 21. Everything is mandatory, the DFM regulatory 2019 airline 23(78) regulation 17(3) mandate the regional coordinating councils to organize budget hearings for all covered entities including MMDAs.
The regional hearings afford the western regional coordinating council and the national technical team an opportunity to review the MMDAs past and current financial and non-finance performance. It also enables the team to ensure MMDAs inculcate government policies and strategies, the linkages of the team sustainable development goals in their budget. As far as termed to the 2024-2027 budget preparation guidelines issued by the minister of
finance. In view of this important national exercise the regional coordinating council in collaboration with GIG organized a free day budget production workshop for 52 offices from all the 14 MMDAs in the western region to deliberate and consider factors to ensure that each Assembly prepare functional and relevant budget.
Such a great event brought together officials from the ministry of finance, regional coordinating council, MMDCEs, coordinating director and everyone who has a role to play in the event. The grouping of the whole programme brought together five MMDAs namely; WASSA AMENFI EAST, WASSA AMENFI WEST, AMENFI CENTRAL AND PRESTEA HUNI-VALLEY MUNICIPAL (the host) to present their budget before the house for finality.
The presentation of the participants was terrifically appreciated. The teams admired at the officials present and acknowledged whatever suggestions were made for the success of the budget hearing.
DIGNITARIES PRESENT WERE;
HON. DR KWABENA OKYERE DARKO MENSAH – REGIONAL MINISTER
MR. FREDERICK AGYEMAN – CHIEF DIRECTOR (WESTERN REGIONAL
COORDINATING COUNCIL)
MADAM AKUA ANIMWAA OWUSU ASAMOAH – ACTING HEAD (FISCAL
DECENTRALIZATION UNIT- MOF, ACCRA)
MR. DANIEL OFOSU ADJEI – CHIEF BUDGET ANALYST (WRCC)
MR MATTHEW KIRK KWOFIE – REGIONAL CONTROLLER (CAGD)
WESTERN REGION
MADAM JOYCE OBIRI YEBOAH – REGIONAL DIRECTOR (DEPT.OF COMM.
DEV’T)
OTHER FACILITATORS INCLUDES;
MR. JOSEPH KWAS KYEI – SNR BUDGET ANALYST
MADAM RHODA KANKAM DANQUAH – SNR BUDGET
MADAM PRECIOUS BISSIW – ASST. BUDGET ANALYST
Other were the friends from the media, Chiefs, Opinion leaders and
Heads of Departments from the selected MMDAs.