A recent report by the Local Accountability Network (LANET) has highlighted the glaring lack of transparency and community involvement in Ghana’s development projects, leading to abandoned and defective projects across the country.
The report, presented by Philip Duah, Executive Director of ABAK Foundation and focal person for Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, revealed that district-level officials are often left in the dark about project details, making it difficult to hold contractors accountable.
The report cited several examples, including a school building project in Ejisu Besiase, where a toilet facility was abandoned and left to decay, and a street light project in Suame, Kumasi, where no lights were found despite claims of completion.
These cases, LANET says, are symptoms of a broader problem – the exclusion of citizens from project planning and implementation suffers.
According to LANET, the lack of access to project information, including scope, timelines, and budgets, makes it challenging for citizens to monitor and hold contractors accountable.
The organization is calling on the government to involve citizens in project planning and implementation, activate the social accountability unit, and ensure project signboards are displayed.
“Government can do better,” said Philip Duah. “We are the citizens, we have the problems, and we suffer from the problems. These problems are our problems.
The government should consult us, involve us, and empower us with information so we can hold contractors accountable.”
LANET is planning to engage with government officials and other stakeholders to push for changes.
The organization believes that making project information publicly available, involving local stakeholders in project planning, and strengthening accountability mechanisms can help address the issue and go a long way in ensuring that projects are properly done.
The call for transparency and accountability in Ghana’s development projects is gaining momentum, and it’s time for the government to listen to the voices of its citizens.
As the LANET Executive Director puts it, “Government without the people is questionable.” It’s time to change that narrative.
By Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
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