Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, paramount chief of the Sunyani traditional areas, has commended Hon. Daniel Botwe, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development on his good works.

Bosoma Nkrawiri made the commendation when the Minister in the company of the Bono Region Minister, Hon. Justina Owusu Banahene visited him at his palace in Sunyani.

The visit was to inform the chief about a three-day refresher course organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development for Metrop[olitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives from Ashanti, Bono, Western North and Ahafo Regions at Sunyani in the Bono Region.

Nana Nkrawiri II recalled the Minister’s hard work during the creation of the six regions as the Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development.

Nana Nkrawiri II said Hon. Botwe held a series of consultation meetings with traditional authorities and other stakeholders in the places earmarked to create the regions.

Hon. Botwe expressed his gratitude for the support Nana Bosoma Asor Nkawiri II and the chiefs of the six regions gave him during the creation of the news regions.

He noted that chiefs and traditional authorities were the custodians of local governance because our local authority started at the traditional level.

Hon. Botwe reiterated President Akufo Addo’s caution to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to acknowledge and work closely with traditional authorities for growth.

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)