In the broader context of deepening transparency, accountability and sound governance within Ghana’s decentralised system, the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) has outdoored the “ekmaprojecttracker,” a digital platform designed to make public projects more visible and traceable.
Positioned as a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Western Region, the tracker reflects a growing shift among local authorities toward operational openness, in line with the principles underpinning the country’s decentralisation framework.
The system is intended to serve as a public interface through which residents can follow the lifecycle of municipal projects—from conception through execution to completion—within their communities.
At its core, the “ekmaprojecttracker” functions as a structured repository of ongoing development interventions across key sectors including health, education, water and sanitation, roads, sports, security, agriculture and trade.
The current dataset captures 62 active projects distributed across eleven communities. Education leads with 19 projects, covering WASH facilities, classroom infrastructure and related amenities, followed by water and sanitation with 17 projects, health with nine, roads with three, and sports with one.
Explaining the thinking behind the initiative, one of the architects of the project told ConnectNews, “We want residents to appreciate our time spent in the office. That each minute spent is about strategising, thinking through and strategically coming up with ideas that will lift EKMA to greater heights.
From a governance standpoint, he explained that such a system aligns with ongoing national efforts to strengthen subnational accountability mechanisms. According to him the decentralisation policy framework places Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) at the centre of local development planning and implementation.
However, concerns have historically emerged around information asymmetry—particularly regarding project selection, funding utilisation and execution timelines. Digital tracking systems such as this seek to reduce that gap by standardising access to project-level data.
“Our effort is simply an attempt to make administrative processes more visible within a governance system where public insight into decision-making has often been limited,” he added.
Municipal Chief Executive Abdul Majeed Dokurgu, who has consistently maintained that he is purposed to run an open-door administration, explained that the platform is structured to provide real-time insights into project timelines, progress status and resource allocation.
“To further show our avowed commitment to greater transparency residents have the opportunity to click on each project under the various sectors and track and see exactly what is happening. Once you click on a specific project, it will expand and give you further details. The system is designed such that, it can record suggestions and there are people monitoring the tracker where all these feedback will be critically looked at for the necessary responses. All these you can do anywhere whether on your phone or computer.”
The system also incorporates a feedback mechanism, allowing residents to submit observations and suggestions, which the Assembly indicates are monitored and reviewed for response. Accessibility is designed to be device-neutral, enabling use via smartphones and computers.
On funding, the MCE noted that the initiative was privately supported. “It is not everything that government can do. Where I believe I can help, I will not hesitate to put my shoulder to the cart because ultimately, it is for the greater good of Effia Kwesimintsim.”
For him tools of this nature only introduce an additional layer to participatory governance whereby making project data publicly accessible and interactive, conditions for citizen oversight that extend beyond periodic engagements or statutory reporting mechanisms are created
Residents’ Response
Reactions among residents engaged by ConnectNews point to an awareness of long-standing concerns around transparency in local governance.
“For the most part, the question has been whether assemblies are using our taxes as expected of them. In many instances, because of the somewhat secrecy surrounding their operations particularly brick and mortar projects, there has been some agitations here and there. So, any effort aimed at opening up the system is laudable. Now, with a click of a button, I will get to see for myself what is happening around. And because, I am in the municipality, I can just take a trip to the project site and see things for myself,” a resident said.
Another resident, while acknowledging the initiative, raised concerns about accessibility. “If you are not computer literate or know your way around smartphones, I wonder how you will be able to keep pace. Imagine, there is a market project and a trader, most of who are not abreast with the workings of a smartphone. How will they keep pace. So the assembly should look at other traditional ways of informing the residents about ongoing projects.”
Eric Yaw Adjei
