Journalists charged to expose rot in MMDAs

Mr Eric Oduro Osae, Dean of Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government Studies, has tasked journalists to acquaint themselves with various Legislative Instruments that deals with local governance.

He observed that when journalists acquired adequate knowledge on the operations of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), they would help expose misappropriation; misapplication; embezzlement and financial indiscipline going on there.

The Dean was speaking at a training workshop organized for journalists and Information Services Department officers on local government financial management and social accountability tools and processes.

Journalists, he said, needed to inform themselves of the mission statements, visions and objectives of the MMDAs in order to be able to question duty bearers on planning, budgeting, auditing and financial reporting.

Mr Osae explained that the critical areas media personnel ought to focus were the various sources of internally generated funds and the external ones, and how those funds were being applied to the benefit of the people.

He said for example that the District Assemblies’ Common Fund was not meant for payment of utility bills, repairs and maintenance of vehicles, salaries and wages, stationery and sitting allowances of assembly members, however, the situation was different on the ground.

The Dean called on media personnel to investigate and do follow-up reports on assemblies’ public hearing, internal audit report, and Audit Report Implementation Committee and general assembly meetings.

Source: GNA