Bono East assemblies urged to prioritise projects with measurable community benefits

Reverend Daniel Nkrumah, Chief Director of the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council

Municipal and district assemblies in the eastern part of the Bono East Region have been urged to focus their budgets on projects and programmes that deliver tangible and measurable benefits to residents.

The call was made by Reverend Daniel Nkrumah, Chief Director of the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council, who represented the Regional Minister at a zonal budget hearing in Atebubu for the Atebubu-Amantin, Sene East and West, and Pru East and West districts.

He stressed the need for the assemblies to make prudent use of their limited resources by directing funding towards initiatives that would have the greatest impact on their respective communities.

“The resources available to us are limited, as we are all aware, and we must therefore ensure that they are directed towards priorities that deliver the greatest benefits to our communities,” he said.

Reverend Nkrumah also urged the assemblies to comply strictly with public financial management, procurement and local government laws, as well as the 2027–2030 budget preparation guidelines.

He explained that all budgets must be aligned with GIFMIS modules, remain within approved expenditure ceilings and be based on realistic revenue and expenditure projections.

The Chief Director further called on the assemblies to improve their internal revenue mobilisation efforts, while reminding them of the statutory requirement to allocate 20% of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to capital projects.

He said ongoing and completed projects with existing financial commitments should receive priority, adding that new projects must demonstrate clear and measurable benefits to residents.

Technical guidance was provided by officials including Emmanuel Nartey, Director of Budget at the Office of the Head of Local Government Service, and Brenda Abakah and Hidaya Sidik from the Ministry of Finance to assist the assemblies in refining their budget proposals.

The approved budgets are expected to be submitted to the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council by November 2 for onward transmission to the Ministry of Finance.

Also present at the hearing were Anthony Agyei, Regional Budget Analyst; Beatrice Kwarteng, Regional Development Planning Officer; and Paul Desmond Tutu, Regional Information Officer.