The Paramount Chief of Cape Coast Asaberema Kwesi Attah II has urged the government to involve stakeholders and traditional authorities in the communities on decisions that border on developmental activities.

 He made the call during a visit by Hon. Dan Botwe, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) at Asaberema Attah II palace in Cape Coast.

 He acknowledged that when government machinery and stakeholders work together from the planning stage to the implementation stage brings development.

 Osaberema Kwesi Attah II noted that there is always discourse between government and chiefs in decision making in terms of development because of inadequate involvement and consultation of traditional authorities and stakeholders when it comes to development.

The Oguamanhene made these observations when Hon. Botwe visited him at his palace in Cape Coast on Monday, January 31, 2022.

 The Minister’s visit was to inform the Chief and his elders about a 3- day zonal refresher course organised for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) from the western, Eastern and Central regions in Cape Coast.

 The training was on the theme, "Building Effective Leadership for Local Economic Transformation and Improved Service Delivery: The MMDCEs in Contemporary Ghana.

 Hon. Botwe assured Osaberema Kwesi Attah II that President Nana Addo Danklwa Akufo Addo believed in traditional participation in the local government system to ensure that citizenry in their communities benefits.

As the President is working toward Ghana beyond aid, MMDCEs should also aim beyond Central Government aid’’, Mr Ebo Amoah, Head of Fiscal Development Unit of the Ministry of Finance,

 has said.

 He observed that as heads of Assemblies in Ghana, MMDCEs play a crucial role in the management of the budget of the Assemblies from the conceptual stage to evaluation and performance reporting.

 MMDCEs must provide the needed leadership role in the Performance Financial Management (PFM) system of the Assembly for an effective and efficient public service delivery.

 Mr Amoah made the observations in a presentation at a 3-day refresher course for MMDCEs from the Central, Eastern, and Western regions at Cape Coast in the Central Region on the topic; Local Government Revenues, Distribution, and Management of Public Funds: Internal Control and Auditing Requirements.

 He urged them to strive to adopt mechanisms to monitor and provide feedback to the citizens on revenues generated and its usage.

 Looking at the positive side, Mr Amoah noted that CODVID-19 presented MMDCEs with an opportunity to adopt information technology tools to reach out to ratepayers and automated the revenue mobilization processes to improve revenue.

 According to him, Chief Executives should have a strong leadership commitment and support to ensure improved revenue mobilization and utilization for enhanced service delivery.

 To estimate revenues of the District Assemblies, he noted the need to regularly collect, collate and update data on all economic activities to facilitate revenue projections.

 Revenue mobilized should support socio-economic development and create enabling environment for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive. It catalyzes improved revenue mobilization. He added.

Guided by the Fee Fixing Guidelines issued by the Ministry, district assemblies prepare their Fee Fixing Resolution and make revenue projections on rateable data.

Source: Public Relations Unit (MLGDRD)

The Northern Region Minister, Hon. Shani Alhassan Shaibu has lamented the generation of funds internally by District assemblies in the northern regions to meet the developmental needs of communities.

He reiterated that most of these Assemblies have a weak revenue base resulting in the over-reliance on external funding sources, especially the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).

The Government, he noted, was aware of these difficulties related to security and the maintenance of law and order.

It is also aware of the application of rule of law in these areas and has not hesitated to come in as Regional Security Council and Regional Coordinating Council in time of such difficulties, which go beyond Assemblies.

Hon. Shaibu said these at a refresher course for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.

The three-day course, which is categorised, is the third in the series organised by the Ministry to build the capacity of Chief Executives and avail them to share ideas with peers and local governance and policy experts. 

Hon. Shaibu revealed that there are arrangements by the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) to engage MMDAs in the five regions to tackle the issue.

Meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will provide a forum for regional interaction to improve performance delivery.

The Regional Minister was hopeful that continuous interactions would provide a common ground and understanding in handling issues in the regions. It will also bring out other challenges in local governance that need attention.

“Some of the challenges such as funding and timely releases of funds will catapult decentralisation activities from the centre and management of conflicts through collective discussions, he added.

Hon. Daniel Botwe said District Assemblies need the requisite capacities to handle the responsibilities given under the law to bring decentralisation to fruition.

MMDCEs, he observed, is mandated to transform the local economy and preside over the creation of jobs for people in their localities through the initiation of programmes for growth and transformation of the economy, such as “Planting for Food and Jobs”, “One Million Dollars One Constituency”, “One District One Factory” and “One Village One Dam” as well as “Agenda 111” policy initiatives.

According to the Hon. Minister, the refresher course was timely, which was timely to enhance competencies and leadership skills to enable MMDCEs to deliver on their mandates.

The 66 Chief Executives from the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Savannah and Bono East Regions attended the programme.

There were presentations from Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah, Hon. Augustine Collins Ntim, Hon. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah Deputy Ministers from the Ministry; Dr Ing. Nana Ato Arthur, Head, Office of the Local Government  Service; Dr Nicholas Awortwi, Director, Institute of Local Government Studies and others.

Source: Public Relations Unit (MLGDRD)