The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with Democracy International (DI), is implementing a Performance Accountability Activity (PAA) in 70 Districts across 10 regions in the country.

The objective of the project is to support government to deliver quality local government services and improve public sector accountability.

It is also to strengthen civil society oversight and their feedback on government performance in the public service.

presenting an overview of the Ghana performance accountability activity at a Sensitization workshop, organized by the USAID in Savelugu, the Head of Programs at Grameen Ghana, one of the implementers of the project, Mugmin Musah said 46 districts in the Northern sector are beneficiaries of the project.

He mentioned Savulugu, Zabzugu, Tolon, Kumbungu, Tatale-Sangule, Saboba, and Nanumba North and South districts as the beneficiary districts in the Northern Region.

"The PAA is funded by USAID and implemented by Democracy International, in close collaboration with the government of Ghana partners and local CSOs, in 70 districts spread across 10 regions of Ghana.

"Grameen Ghana, a local CSO seeking to reduce poverty and injustice, is a sun-awardee of the PAA, leading activity implementation in Savulugu and seven other MMDAs in the Northern region”.

Mugmin Musah said the program also seeks to build on existing strategies and capabilities needed to provide the necessary environment for promoting accountable governance.

He said the project is been implemented under the umbrella of the USAID’s Ghana Accountable Governance project made up of various activities.

He mentioned political accountability activity, fiscal accountability activity, and the government to government activity as some of its projects.

Mugmin Musah said all these are to collaborate with the PAA to enhance performance accountability in the country.

He said it will go a long way to reinforce, complement and be coordinated with the USAID’s activities in the five sectors which include education, health, agriculture, water, sanitation and hygiene, and fisheries.

The Head of programs said the Performance Accountability Activity (PAA) is aligned with the government of Ghana's beyond aid policy.

He said it is also aligned with organizations that promote accountability such as the World Bank, UNICEF, and GIZ among others.

Speaking at the event, the PPA Chief of Party, Dr Ross Worthinton emphasized the project’s core objective stating “the PAA will enhance the capacity of government partners including sector agencies, district assemblies, CSOs and community-based organizations to implement behavior-led capacity-building and institutional strengthening interventions “.

The USAID Ghana Mission Director, Kimberly Rosen in her remarks said the program is been implemented because there are issues of service provision in the country, adding that the provision of public service is critical in terms of good governance.

“We are implementing this program because we know there are issues with service provision and being able for the government to provide key services to the people that they serve is critical in terms of good governance and being able to expand good development across the country. So we take this program seriously “ she said.

In a speech read on behalf of the Savelugu Municipal Chief Executive, Hajia commended USAID for its long-standing development initiatives In the country and the project.

She said effective service delivery is essential to a thriving municipality, adding that it is what ensures quality service delivery, admitting some challenges hinder quality service delivery in the Municipality

“The PAA through its focus on building capacity, fostering citizenship engagement, and promoting accountability offers valuable opportunities to overcome some of these challenges “ she added.

Participants were drawn from the media, CSOs, education, health, agriculture, and traditional authorities among others.