Upper West Regional Minister Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing, has warned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that average performance will no longer be tolerated, declaring that the 2026 Performance Contract must deliver visible results for residents of the region.
“The people of the Upper West Region expect visible improvements in governance and development outcomes,” Hon. Puozuing said on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the signing ceremony held at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) Conference Hall in Damongo.
The event brought together MMDCEs, Presiding Members and Heads of Departments, marking the formal adoption of the 2026 Performance Contract under the Government’s Performance Management System.
The contract translates national and regional development priorities into measurable commitments at the assembly level, with the goal of strengthening institutional effectiveness, improving service delivery and enforcing accountability within Ghana’s decentralised governance system.
Reflecting on the 2025 performance cycle, Hon. Puozuing delivered a blunt assessment, acknowledging that while a few assemblies recorded gains, overall performance fell below expectations. He cited resource constraints, weak ownership of reforms and poor follow-through on targets as persistent challenges.
“These weaknesses point to a deeper problem of leadership discipline and commitment,” he noted.
The Regional Minister stressed that the performance contract must not be treated as an external imposition by the RCC or central government, but as an internal management tool for planning, monitoring and evaluation.
“It’s time for all MMDAs to fully embrace and own this reform process,” Hon. Puozuing said, urging assemblies to take responsibility for their targets and outcomes.
He challenged local authorities to mobilise available resources and adopt innovative approaches to overcome constraints, describing the 2026 contract as “an opportunity to reset our approach and strengthen implementation.”
Hon. Puozuing further reminded participants that the performance agreement is backed by a clear system of rewards and sanctions. Assemblies that perform well will receive recognition and additional support, while persistent underperformance will attract administrative consequences.
“This system is meant to promote responsibility, competitiveness and results,” he said.
The Minister concluded by calling on public officers to deliver transparency, diligence and measurable impact, stressing that improved governance is not optional but a duty owed to the people of the Upper West Region.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
