Accountability or Duplication? The Role of Regional Ministers and MMDCEs

Why should a Regional Minister spend significant amounts of taxpayers’ money on fuel and other logistics travelling from one district assembly to another in the name of accounting to the people, when every district already has an MMDCE whose mandate includes explaining government policies, projects and programmes to the people?

Accountability is undoubtedly important. Government officials must engage citizens, explain what has been achieved and account for public resources. However, accountability must also be accompanied by efficiency and responsible use of taxpayers’ money.

Every Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive operates at the local level and is expected to serve as the link between the central government and the people. They are therefore strategically positioned to account for government activities and developments within their respective assemblies.

This raises a legitimate question: If MMDCEs can account to the people at the district level, what additional purpose is being served by a Regional Minister travelling to every assembly to undertake essentially the same exercise?

Is the Regional Minister suggesting that the MMDCEs are not competent enough to account for government projects and policies in their respective districts?

Or is this simply another layer of government engagement that could be coordinated more efficiently without putting additional pressure on the public purse?

The issue is not whether Regional Ministers should engage the people. They certainly should. Their oversight and coordination responsibilities are important. But such engagements must be carefully structured to ensure that they complement, rather than duplicate, the work of MMDCEs.

At a time when governments are constantly calling on citizens to support efforts to reduce waste and protect public resources, every expenditure must be subjected to scrutiny. Fuel, vehicle maintenance, accommodation, security and other logistical costs associated with extensive regional tours ultimately come from the public purse.

Perhaps a better approach would be for Regional Ministers to focus on regional-level policy coordination, monitoring and supervision, while MMDCEs take greater responsibility for direct accountability at the district level.

The Regional Minister can then periodically engage the people collectively or visit districts where there are specific issues requiring regional intervention. This would preserve accountability while reducing unnecessary duplication and expenditure.

Ultimately, accountability should not become an excuse for duplication. The real question is not simply whether government officials are engaging the people, but whether those engagements are being done in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.

Taxpayers deserve accountability, but they also deserve value for money.

Prof Ike
By Concern Journalist