The Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) has called on the government, especially the Presidency and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), to step up efforts at protecting and beefing up security for all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Ghana.
The CLGA, a newly-founded institution that promotes good local governance through evidence-based research and capacity building, noted with shock and dismay the gruesome murder of the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Nkwanta South District, Mr Peter Kenyenso. “The CLGA wishes to condemn this barbaric act and call on well meaning Ghanaians to join hands with the security agencies to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book,” stated a press release signed and issued in Accra yesterday by Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, Acting Executive Director of VLGA.
The CLGA drew the country's attention to Section 20 (3d) of the Local Government Act, 1993 ((Act 462) which makes MMDCEs' the chief representatives of the central government at the districts. “It therefore implies that MMDCEs are required to be accorded all the protection and courtesies extended to similar central government representatives in the performance of their duties,” the release said.
The CLGA observed that the security and safety of MMDCEs have been relegated to the background and not given the required attention by the government. “This obviously does not promote good local governance because most MMDCEs are now living in fear, obviously affecting their ability to manage and lead their Local Governments as required. In most cases, the protection of MMDCEs is left in the hands of city guards and municipal task force members, who may not possess the required standard security proficiency to protect such important central government representatives.”
The CLGA sympathises with the bereaved family, the MMDCEs caucus in the Volta Region and the entire Local Government fraternity on the death of Mr Kenyenso in the course of his duty.
“The CLGA is by this press release urging the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Interior and the Office of the President to as a matter of urgency come out with practical measures put in place to protect and ensure the security of MMDCEs in Ghana in order to prevent the re-occurrence of the Nkwanta South episode since all MMDCE's are now living in fear,” the policy-cum-research non-governmental organization asserted.
The vision of the CLGA is to advocate for effective local governance in Ghana. Its mission is to be the best local governance advocacy group in the world.
