Ayawaso North Assembly engages residents on development projects and social accountability

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ayawaso North, Mr Haruna Awal Mohammed, has reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive development, highlighting some ongoing and planned projects to improve the living conditions of residents across the municipality.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on social auditing organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ayawaso North Municipal Office, in collaboration with the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly, Mr Mohammed said the Assembly remained committed to ensuring that development projects reflected the priority needs of communities.

He explained that all projects undertaken by the Assembly were informed by needs assessments conducted within various communities to ensure the equitable allocation of resources and effective service delivery.

The MCE disclosed that a school project, which was originally scheduled to commence in 2025 but was delayed due to land acquisition challenges, would soon begin following the successful acquisition of land at Sabulu Park.

He also announced plans for the construction of a fire and ambulance station at the washing bay, a pavement project at Shardow Mosque, and Phase II of the Point Nine drainage project at Whitehouse to improve infrastructure and public safety within the municipality.

Mr. Mohammed further revealed that the Assembly office complex was nearing completion, while architectural drawings for the Chief's compound and a social centre at Kawukudi had been completed.

“Ten boreholes had been drilled across the municipality to improve access to potable water for residents,” he added.

According to the MCE, the stakeholder engagement served as an important platform for residents to share their firsthand experiences and observations on the quality, progress and impact of development projects being implemented in their communities.

He reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in the management of public resources while working to improve service delivery and accelerate sustainable development throughout the municipality.

Also speaking at the programme, the Physical Planning Officer of the Assembly, Mr Foster Aboamah, educated participants on the procedures for acquiring building permits.

He explained that applicants must meet the documentation requirements applicable to their categories of development and noted that site inspections are conducted before permits are approved.

Mr Aboamah stated that applications could be deferred or rejected where lands were improperly zoned, unsuitable for development or located in waterlogged areas. He added that multi-storey developments require additional structural drawings, soil testing reports and clearance from the Ghana National Fire Service to ensure compliance with planning and safety regulations.

The stakeholder engagement formed part of efforts by the NCCE and the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly to strengthen citizen participation, enhance accountability and promote effective local governance through social auditing.