President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Alfred Asiedu Adjei, has charged assembly members to keep a close watch on public funds allocated to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure that the resources translate into meaningful development.

Mr Adjei made the call at a two-day workshop in Kumasi organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs; the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS); and NALAG.

The workshop brought together assembly members, presiding members, metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs), coordinating directors, and other stakeholders in local governance.

According to the NALAG President, the principle that “funds must follow functions” should go hand in hand with accountability.

“Where funds go, accountability must follow,” he said.

He urged Assembly Members to take an active interest in the finances and development activities of their respective assemblies rather than limiting their roles to attending meetings and approving official documents.

He said assembly members must know their assembly's budget, annual action plan, allocations, releases, and projects and should monitor the implementation of those projects to ensure that they deliver value to residents.

“Have the eagle eye,” Mr Adjei told the assembly members, urging them to scrutinise financial documents, understand project allocations, and seek explanations where funds or projects did not appear to be achieving their intended purposes.

He said where projects were delayed or resources were not being used as intended, assembly members had a responsibility to raise questions through the appropriate channels.

The NALAG President cited 2026 allocation figures presented at the workshop, indicating that the MMDAs' direct allocation stood at approximately GH¢7.934 billion, representing about 90.47 percent of the total fund.

He said the critical issue was not only the size of the allocation but also what the money ultimately delivered to communities.

He questioned whether citizens could point to improved roads, schools, sanitation facilities, health services, markets, water projects, and economic opportunities as evidence of the effective use of public resources.

Mr Adjei reminded stakeholders that public funds belonged to the people and were entrusted to public officials for the delivery of services and development.

He said public resources did not belong to MMDCEs, assembly members, coordinating directors, finance officers, or political parties, stressing that every cedi must be accounted for.

He further urged assembly members not to allow political affiliation, personal relationships, or fear to prevent them from raising legitimate concerns about issues affecting their constituents.

According to him, the needs of citizens should remain at the centre of local governance, irrespective of political differences.

He noted that problems such as poor roads, flooding, inadequate infrastructure, and poor sanitation affected citizens regardless of their political affiliation.

He, therefore, urged assembly members to put the interests of their constituents and the national interest ahead of partisan considerations in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Adjei said effective decentralisation required a clear link between the responsibilities assigned to local authorities and the resources provided to perform those responsibilities.

He described the process as “functions, funds, accountability, results, and development,” stressing that resources must follow assigned functions and be subjected to effective oversight to produce the desired outcomes.

He said the ultimate measure of local governance was whether ordinary citizens could see and experience the benefits of public resources in their communities.

The NALAG President, consequently, called on Assembly Members and other local government stakeholders to strengthen their oversight responsibilities and ensure that public funds entrusted to MMDAs were converted into tangible development for the people.