Minister suggest transfer of DCEs

Sunyani, Jan. 09, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo regional Minister, has suggested the transfer of District Chief Executives (DCE's), to save them from problems arising out of local political intrigues.

"I believe if the regulatory framework would permit the transfer of DCEs, a window for sheltering them from the myriad of problems that plague some of them, arising out of local political intrigues, would have been opened", he said

Mr Nyamekye Marfo said an attempt was made in the past to transfer regional ministers out of their regions 93and we all witnessed the positiv= e outcomes". The Regional Minister was delivering the welcoming address, at a publi= c lecture on Decentralization and Local Government in Sunyani, organised unde= r the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The lecture on 93One Step Forward: The Significance of LI 1961 in MMD= As Capacity Building" was delivered by Mr Kwamina Ahwoi, a Principal lecture= r at GIMPA.

Present were Municipal and District Chief Executives, chiefs, queens, heads of decentralized departments, presiding members and assembly members. Mr Nyamekye Marfo called for a second look at the role of regional co-ordinating councils (RCCs), especially in the consideration of resource allocation, saying 93the responsibilities assigned to and undertaken by th= e RCCs far outweigh the resources allocated for the purpose" He lauded the opportunity provided to sensitise stakeholders of the decentralization process in the region on Legislative (L.I) 1961, 93which outlines the departments of the District Assemblies and the merger of Agencies within the Assemblies".

The Regional Minister expressed the hope that, the training would provide the stakeholders with an invaluable insight into the expectation of the L.I and the new decentralized structure.

Mr Ahwoi said for the decentralization process to succeed, it needed DCEs, who were not only politically loyal but also competent, as the curren= t system of appointing DCEs could not be the best. He said he had submitted a paper to the constitutional review committee, which would still allow the President to nominate, but the persons must face an interview by the Public Service Commission and approva= l by the people through a referendum.

Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi, Omanhene of Kukuom and President of the Brong Ahafo House of Chiefs, who presided, noted that, the lecture would further enlighten stakeholders and urged the participants to take it seriously. The Omanhene called for the decentralization of the printing of ballot papers to give meaning to the decentralized system of administration and in view of the hiccups during the recent District Assembly and Unit Committee elections.