The previous discussion suggests that the fono stands as one of the primary mechanisms for accountability and transparency in local government in Samoa. Council members, families and individuals in the village are held accountable for their actions (or lack of actions) through the process discussed earlier. For instance, a council member who fails to follow a council’s decision is mandated to appear in the fono. He or she is given the opportunity to explain and to defend his/her action before the council deliberates on a decision. The deliberation follows the procedure explained in the previous section. In the end, the member concerned is penalized if he/she is found guilty, and the weight of the punishment depends on the severity of the offence.