Government urged to continue supporting Assemblies with COVID-19 relief packages

A research has recommended the need for the government to continue to support local governments like the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) with COVID-19 relief packages until the disease is completely eradicated.

The research has also recommended the need for TaMA to use available platforms to provide feedback to the general public on its implementation of social interventions with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on beneficiaries and how they were selected.

The research, undertaken in the last quarter of 2021 as part of “COVID-19 Accountability Bridges: Providing Platforms for Engaging Government on Transparent and Accountable COVID-19 Expenditure” project funded by the United States Embassy, was released at a forum in Tamale.

The project provided government with the platform to account for COVID-19 policy implementation and expenditure while availing same platform to citizens to scrutinise government’s accountability on COVID-19 expenditure.

The research was carried out by the Local Accountability Networks of TaMA, a network of local civil society bodies, with support from RUWA Ghana and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition.

As part of the research, data were collected from the TaMA, Tamale Metropolitan Health Directorate, selected health facilities and citizen groups.

It found that TaMA did not receive any financial packages in 2021 for its COVID-19 response work.

It also found that while the Tamale Metropolitan Health Directorate reported that logistics such as personal protective equipment were supplied on regular basis to health facilities, the health facilities reported that such logistics were not supplied on regular basis.

The research also emphasised the need for TaMA to continue to enforce the COVID-19 safety protocols to keep the population safe and reduce the spread of the disease in the area.

It recommended that public education programmes should consciously cater for the needs of persons with disabilities through the use of sign language and minority languages.

Mr Peter Apetorgbor, Tamale Metropolitan Disease Control Officer lauded the report saying it was an important intervention in ensuring accountability in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the area.

Mr Salifu Mohammed Mutala, Assembly Member for Agric/Mohiyabihi Electoral Area, who represented the TaMA during the forum, said despite the challenges, TaMA was committed to continuing the fight against the spread of COVID-19 within its jurisdiction.