Savannah Regional Minister Hon. Salisu Be-Awuribe has put Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the region on notice, warning that poor performance in 2026 will attract sanctions as the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council (SRCC) signed performance contracts aimed at tightening accountability and delivery.
“This is not a routine exercise. Failure is not an option,” Be-Awuribe said at the signing ceremony in Damongo on Wednesday January 4, 2026, stressing that the contracts come with clear rewards and sanctions. Officers who fail to deliver, he added, as well as supervisors who fail to enforce standards, will face disciplinary action.
The ceremony formalised commitments between Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) and their Coordinating Directors, following the earlier signing of the regional performance contract by the Regional Minister and the Regional Coordinating Director in Kumasi.
Be-Awuribe said the exercise aligns with the government’s reset agenda, calling for a change in attitude and work culture across local government. “We must see improvements in time management, professionalism and ethical conduct,” he said, announcing that modern technology and monitoring tools will be deployed to track performance across the region.
He directed Coordinating Directors and Human Resource Officers to ensure all departments set clear, realistic and measurable targets consistent with the Constitution, relevant laws, National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) guidelines and government policy frameworks. While warning of strict enforcement, the Minister cautioned against victimisation, abuse of authority, political bias and personal vendettas, insisting that discipline must be fair, lawful and evidence-based.
The Regional Minister also reminded officers of their obligations under the Right to Information Act, underscoring the need for proper documentation, records management and lawful disclosure.
Earlier, Savannah Regional Coordinating Director, Chief Mustapha B. Adam, said the performance contract is a structured tool to guide and assess the delivery of assemblies’ core mandates within defined timelines. “The contract is not ceremonial. Assemblies will be ranked based on performance,” he warned.
According to Chief Mustapha, the 2026 Performance Contract is anchored on seven thematic areas: General Administration; Human Resource Management; Financial Management and Reporting; Infrastructure Delivery; Social Services Delivery; Local Economic Development; and Environment and Sanitation. Each theme carries specific key performance indicators (KPIs) against which assemblies will be assessed.
He said monitoring will occur at multiple levels, including the Office of the Head of Local Government Service, with a mid-year review in July and a final end-of-year assessment. He urged all MMDAs to work diligently to ensure the Savannah Region improves its standing in national assessments.
Concluding the ceremony, Be-Awuribe called for collective commitment to the contracts, respect for lawful instructions and teamwork to make the Savannah Region a model of excellence in local governance, assuring that outstanding performance will be recognised and rewarded.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
