His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the government is closer to the people than it ever had been in the history of Ghana.
President Akufo-Addo indicated that decentralization reforms started in 1988 with only 110 district assemblies and had increased to 261 district assemblies with massive progress in several fronts.
To him, new ideas and opportunities will emerge to deepen the deliberative, legislative and executive functions of the district assemblies.
President Akufo Addo instructed all elected assembly members and unit committee members to consult people on issues to be discussed in District assembly meetings.
He said that assembly members have the mandate to deliberate, plan, mobilize resources, make decisions including by laws to ensure the transformation of districts towards the Ghana we all want.
President Akufo Addo affirmed that the Article 35 Clause 6(d) of the 1992 constitution enjoins the state to promote decentralization and popular participation in governance by affording all possible opportunities to the citizenry to participate in decision making at all levels of government.
He cited that after three decades of promulgation, the government remains very much a work in progress.
‘‘The instinct of the average citizen is still to look towards Accra or their Members of Parliament for things that fall within the remit of the district assembly. I am expecting that you would be part of the team that finally changes the status quo and deepen local governance and decentralization to enable the citizens to have access to basic public services in their districts rather than demanding for such services from Accra,’’ he added.
President Akufo Addo said that it is an honor and privilege to be elected or appointed to service the residents of your localities.
He entreated the elected assembly members to closely with each other to create innovative ways of mobilizing the needed resources for the development within their areas.
President Akufo Addo added that district assemblies are a critical part of our governance structure and processes with a significant role dedicated to local institutions.
He explained that district assemblies are mandated to support the government to deliver on its program and projects to the benefit of the people.
He urged them to advance the implementation of the government coordinated program of economic and social development policies (2022-2025): agenda for jobs, creating prosperity and equal opportunity for all.
President Akufo Addo advised them to localize national development priorities in their action plans during their deliberations, planning and decision making for development.
President Akufo Addo said that the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (MLGDRD) has formulated several sector policies that contribute towards the national agenda which includes National Decentralization Policy and Strategy, National Urban Policy and Action Plan, Local Economic Development Policy and Action plan; and National Rural Development Policy.
He continued that it is important that the policies will guide their decision-making processes adding that any local project and programs will need to be aligned with the national and sectoral policies.
President Akufo Addo averred that the leadership challenges at the district level are enormous and complex. He stated that section 16(1) of Act 936 mandates assembly members to close contact with the electoral areas by collating people’s views, opinions and proposals and take part in communal and development activities.
President Akufo Addo lamented that assembly members are unable to effectively deliver because of inadequate resources as it has caused disaffection and cynicism about the important roles in participatory governance and local development.
President Akufo Addo directed them to acquaint themselves with all relevant laws on local governance to avoid unneeded conflicts MMDAs, traditional authorities, key stakeholders and; opinion and religious leaders.
He said that the government is keen on building the capacity to provide local leadership, hence Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) with the state-of-the-art facilities and other training resources to enable assembly members to effectively provide the needed training for competence enhancement.
He disclosed that MLGDRD through ILGS will organize orientation and training to enable appreciate the expected and responsibilities.
President Akufo Addo indicated that predecessor’s attention was drawn to a major challenge relating to unplanned and haphazard development within the jurisdiction of most assemblies and it had serious implications for national development and public safety.
He said that MLGDRD together with Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) held consultative meetings to apprise the citizenry on guidelines for planning and development permitting in Ghana.
‘‘As you begin work, it is my ardent hope that you will help enforce planning standards and compliance of the LUSPA Act 2016 (Act 925) as well as other regulations of government human settlement and spatial planning,’’ President Akufo Addo expressed in a speech.
He charged them to create platforms including town hall meetings, community durbars and deploy other digitalized citizens’ engagement tools to enhance the relationship between duty bearers and citizens.
He urged them to be selflessness, devotion to duty, a very accountable stewardship, ability to articulate the needs of the people to guide the district development agenda, improve quality of livelihoods and wellbeing.
Eastern Regional Minister, Hon Seth Kwame Acheampong delivered the speech on behalf of President Akufo Addo during the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of elected assembly and presiding members in Achiase and Birem South District Assembly in the Eastern region.
Eric Bamfo was elected as presiding member for Achiase district assembly and Asare Dominic for Birem South District Assembly.
But presiding members elections in the Eastern region were unsuccessful in Kade, Okere and New Juaben North.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Solomon Nartey.
