Government to empower decentralised departments

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - The Local Government Council (LGC) is to organise a three-day strategic communication workshop for Chief Directors and Directors of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to discuss their integration into the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies from November 16-18.

The MDAs have been classified under 11 decentralized departments, Central administration, Finance, Education Youth and Sports, Health, Agriculture, Physical Planning, Social Welfare and Community Development, Natural Resources Conservation, Works, Trade and Industry, and Disaster Prevention. These were disclosed by Nana Rex Owusu-Ansah, Acting Head of LGC in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra on Saturday.

He said functions previously performed by branches, divisions or units of the departments to be transferred need to be identified and merged with those of the assemblies.

Nana Owusu-Ansah said staff of decentralized departments at the assemblies would be identified by age, rank, qualification and skills before transferred to form part of the Local Government Service.

He explained that the new Department of Agriculture of the assemblies would undertake functions relating to agricultural engineering, extension services, crops, fisheries, animal production, veterinary services and women in agricultural development.

It would in addition, be responsible for management, extension services, natural resources management, rural infra-structural as well as small scale irrigation responsibilities.

The department would formulate and implement agricultural policies of the assemblies within the framework of national policies and report on its implementation to the assembly, regional coordinating council and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). Nana Owusu-Ansah said Works Department is a merger of Public Works Department, Department of Feeder Roads, Department of Rural Housing and Works Unit of the assemblies.

The Department is established to eliminate duplication of functions between agencies at the sub-national level, relieve managers at the centre of routine tasks and simplify complex bureaucratic procedures; transfer competence and ensure rational use of existing limited human resources.

It would also enhance close relationship and inter-relationship between the agencies being merged and create synergy, provide environment for the exchange of ideas and skills by personnel who hitherto have been operating within the confines of their separate entities.

The Department of Physical Planning is a fusion of the functions of Town and Country Planning and Department of Parks and Gardens.

It is tasked to deliver integrated settlement planning, land use, and draw beautification programmes as well as environmental monitoring and protection. The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development would formulate and implement social welfare and community development policies within the framework of national policies.

It is also tasked to provide community care services such as registration of person with disabilities, assistance to the aged, personal social welfare services, hospital welfare services, assistance to street children, child survival and development, socio-economic and emotional stability in families.

The Department of Education Youth and Sports is tasked to responsibilities relating to pre-school, special schools, basic education, youth and sports development and organization, library services at the assemblies.

It harmonizes activities and functions of Ghana Education Service; Youth Council; Sports Council and Library Board.

Nana Owusu-Ansah explained that the merger was to improve delivery of basic education and fundamental objective of the Free Compulsory Basic Education (FCUBE) Programme, improve teaching and learning, increase access to primary and junior secondary education, improve efficiency in management and achieving financial stability.

The Department of Health is to formulate, plan and implement District Health Policies within the framework of national health policies and guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health.

It would report on implementation of policies relating to health including outbreak of communicable diseases.

The Department of Disaster Prevention is to plan and implement programmes to prevent and mitigate disaster within the framework of national policies as well as organize public education activities. The Department of Trade and Industry is envisaged to deal with the issue of trade; cottage industry and co-operatives.

The Department of Natural Resource Conservation is charged with the responsibility of development, improvement and management of human settlement and the environment.