Lack of skilled labour at local level hampering development - Shaibu Chi-Saaka

A former Presiding Member of Ellembelle District Assembly in Western Region, Shaibu Chi-Saaka, has revealed that most local government institutions in the country are currently struggling to function properly.

He pointed out that the shortage of skilled labour remains one of the critical challenges hampering local governance adding that “those with skills have moved to the big cities or where Income Generating Activities (IGAs) are favorable".

According to him, although the central government relies on local government as the driving force for development and promotion of democracy across the country, the poor human resources is one of the reasons for underdevelopment in local communities in Ghana.

Speaking in an interview with the media, Chi-Saaka, identified unguarded partisan politics as another challenge hindering development at the Assembly level.

In addition, the former member of the Ellembelle Assembly revealed that said some of the Assemblies in the country do not have proper building structures to function as expected.

"Some Assemblies remain skeletal", he reiterated. He explained that Assembly Members are not paid regularly and have a “poor working relationship with heads of department" hence they are motivated to perform.

Shaibu Chi-Saaka, therefore, proposed the “creation of an Assembly Members’ Common Fund or Development Fund because Ghanaians are in need of transformational changes from the authorities.”