Assembly members urged to be close to electorate

Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Tuesday urged assembly members to maintain close contact with their electoral areas as defined in the Local Government Act of 1993.

He also advised the assembly members to consult the people on issues to be discussed in the assembly and collate their views and opinions for presentation.

Alhaji Dauda gave the advised when he inaugurated the Atwima Mponua and Atwima Nwabiagya districts in the Ashanti Region on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama.

He said Ghana has suffered in the events leading to the occasion and that the worst being the cancellation of the District Level Elections originally scheduled for March, as a result of the Supreme Court decision.

He said it was appropriate to describe the inauguration as auspicious and historic.

Alhaji Dauda said an assembly which is served by dedicated individuals make it a duty to demand accountability.

He said the credibility of the assembly would be assured in respect of decision making and delivery of services to the people.

He said after 27 years of experimenting with the decentralised system of government, Ghana could say with pride and justified the decision to decentralise.

Alhaji Dauda who is also the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South said government over the years has done a lot to strengthen the process of decentralisation by providing financial support through the District Assemblies Common Fund, the District Development Facility and the local capacity development projects.

He said government has also provided institutional support through the establishment of sub-district level political structures, such as urban, town and area councils and unit committees.

The Minister noted that these are important structures which are meant to provide the required support to the district assemblies especially in the implementation of decisions, projects and programmes.

He said it is important to also recognise that the designers of the local government system have built delicate checks and balances into the system and accordingly, the principal actors, namely, the District Chief Executive, Presiding Member, Members(s) of parliament, District Coordinating Directors, Assembly members, councillors, unit committee members, the traditional authorities must respect the prescribed boundaries of their responsibilities and rights and recognise that nobody is superior to the other.

Alhaji Dauda said what is important is that, “we must all be dedicated, committed and work hard together as a people with a common objective to develop your District”.

He said government would continue to play a major role in developing the assemblies through the provision of logistics, staffing and office accommodation.

“However, as an assembly, you need to generate the needed revenue not only for recurrent expenditure, but also for funding development projects,” he said.

Alhaji Dauda reminded assembly members that the position they have accepted is increasingly becoming complex and demanding and their electorate are becoming impatient and more enlightened.

Mr Stephen Yeboah, Atwima Mponua District Chief Executive (DCE) said only five women contested the District Assembly election in the area but not none was elected.

He said this was not the best for our democracy, particularly in the decision-making process and governance at the Local level.

“We must, therefore reconsider our voting in the future and ensure a balance equation,” he said.

Mr Yeboah said although, the District has experienced some progress in terms of socio-economic development, it is still confronted with some challenges in the areas of education, health, agriculture, road network, waste management and environmental sanitation.

Nana Asare Bediako, Atwima Nwabiagya DCE said assembly members have crucial roles to play in terms of addressing the socio-economic issues confronting the District to improve the wellbeing of the people.

He said improving the wellbeing of the district is an important part to be played by the assembly members in local governance and development expect members to hit the ground running.