President Akufo-Addo has revealed government’s determination to building the capacity of District Assemblies to provide local leadership.
In view of that, government, he said, has retooled the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) with the state-of-the-art facilities and other training resources to enable them effectively provide the needed training for their competence enhancement.
This was contained in a Speech read on his behalf by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, at the inauguration of the assemblies in Suhum and Ayensuano.
Akosua Frema Osei-Opare noted that as a first step, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, through the ILGS, will in the next few weeks organise orientation and training for the Assembly members to enable them appreciate the expected roles and responsibilities.
“Let me also emphasize that good governance entails active participation of the citizenry in the development process. Consequently, your District Assembly must create platforms including town hall meetings, community durbars and deploy other digitalized citizens’ engagement tools to enhance the relationship between duty bearers and the citizens. In so doing, we give meaning to the provisions under sections 40 to 48 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).”
She said, the Assembly Members have the mandate to deliberate, plan, mobilize resources, and make decisions including by-laws to ensure the transformation of your Districts towards the Ghana we all want.
According to her, the decentralization reforms that started in 1988 with only one hundred and ten (110) District Assemblies have made progress in several fronts and that the 259 District Assemblies out of a total of 261 inaugurated, bring government closer to the people than it had ever been in the history of Ghana.
“As we constitute the membership of the District Assembly, it is envisaged that new ideas and opportunities would emerge to deepen the deliberative, legislative and executive functions of the District Assembly.”
She averred that the Constitution spells out clearly the process through which governance is decentralized to the local level and after three (3) decades of its promulgation, this remains very much a work in progress.
“I am expecting that you would be part of the team that finally change the status quo and deepen local governance and decentralisation to enable the citizens have access to basic public services in their Districts rather than demanding for such services from Accra. This, therefore, calls for your continuous capacity building as well as sensitization of all citizens on the tenets of decentralisation and Ghana’s local governance system.”
She maintained that the District Assembly is being inaugurated at a time when efforts are being made by Government through the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) to improve on the mobilisation of Internally Generated Funds (IGFs) of the MMDAs.
She entreated them to work closely with each other to create innovative ways of mobilising the needed resources for the development within their areas.
The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development has formulated several sector policies that contribute towards the national agenda including the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy; National Urban Policy and Action Plan; Local Economic Development Policy and Action Plan; and National Rural Development Policy.
She took note of the leadership challenges at the district level, saying that this has caused disaffection and cynicism about the important roles that Assembly members play in participatory governance and local development.
“While efforts are being made to address these resource constraints, you should also acquaint yourself with all the relevant laws on local governance to avoid unneeded conflicts with your Hon. District Chief Executive, traditional authorities, opinion and religious leaders and other key stakeholders in your localities.”
She charged them to work with selflessness, devotion to duty, a very accountable stewardship and above all, their ability to articulate the needs of the people to guide the district development agenda and ultimately, improve the quality of their livelihoods and wellbeing.
The President at the end, congratulate all the Elected Assembly and Unit Committee Members for their success at the polls.
The President also in accordance with the 1992 Constitution of the Republic appointed 30 percent of Assembly Members who together with those elected, as well as Member (s) of Parliament and District Chief Executive constitute the membership of the Assemblies.
