The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has undertaken a field inspection and monitoring visit to the Ahafo Region as part of government’s commitment to strengthening oversight, accountability and effective service delivery within the local governance system. The purpose of the mission was to conduct an official inspection and monitoring exercise of ongoing development projects in the region, particularly those supported under DPAT/DACF RFG programme and related interventions.
The visit aimed to assess implementation progress, ensure value for money, reinforce transparency and promote compliance with established governance frameworks, including the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), and performance improvement mechanisms such as the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT).Ahead of the inspection, a meeting was held on Wednesday, 25th February, 2026, at the Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) Conference Room.
The session brought together representatives from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the German Development Bank (KFW), Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs), regional heads of departments, members of the Regional Planning Coordinating Unit (RPCU) and the media to review progress and discuss strategies for improved project delivery.
In her welcome remarks, the Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. (Mrs.) Charity Gardiner, expressed appreciation for the visit and extended a warm welcome to all stakeholders. She thanked development partners for selecting the Ahafo Region as a beneficiary of the DACF-RFG Project and highlighted the importance of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) framework in delivering infrastructure such as classroom blocks, market facilities, CHPS compounds and lorry parks and among others. She noted the Region’s commitment to improving performance under the DPAT system and urged all participants to engage with openness and dedication.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim stated that SECO has partnered with the Government of
Ghana, through the Ministry, in the implementation of development projects over the past eight years. He
indicated that a total of GH¢980,732,648 had been disbursed to finance priority local infrastructure projects, while GH¢42,935,328 had been allocated to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for capacity building and the procurement of essential logistics. He noted that these investments have facilitated the delivery of over 10,000 basic infrastructure projects nationwide, including schools, health facilities, market infrastructure, roads, water systems, sanitation facilities, electricity extensions, warehouses, police stations and other key amenities.
The Minister acknowledged the continued support of development partners, stating that their presence in the region was to assess the extent of programme support to MDAs in Ahafo, evaluate progress made, and identify areas for improvement. He emphasized that accountability is essential for building public trust and confidence in governance, adding that transparency and prudent financial management are critical to sustaining development gains. He further reaffirmed Government’s commitment to deepening
decentralization and strengthening fiscal discipline to ensure effective and sustainable development.
The Regional Economic Planning Officer, Mr. Jacob Adade Ntiamoah, delivered a comprehensive
presentation outlining the vision and mission of the RCC, emphasizing its role in coordinating regional
development efforts and ensuring effective implementation of government policies. He explained the core functions of the RCC, including monitoring and supervising MMDAs, ensuring compliance with national guidelines, supporting DPAT processes, facilitating inter-sectoral collaboration, and promoting
accountability. He also highlighted the RCC’s responsibilities under the DACF-RFG Programme and the
GIZ-Paired Programme in ensuring proper coordination and resource utilization.
Representatives of SECO and KFW expressed appreciation to the Government of Ghana for the strong
partnership and commended the progress made under the programme. They noted that the investments have contributed significantly to strengthening local governance and improving service delivery across beneficiary regions, including Ahafo. They reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the collaboration and encouraged continued cooperation among stakeholders to ensure transparency, effective implementation and long-term sustainability of the interventions.
Following the engagements, the Minister and the entire delegation proceeded to inspect selected project sites within the region, including CHPS compound and school facilities, to assess progress, quality of work and compliance with project standards as part of the monitoring exercise.
