Wassa West District Assembly Members undergo orientation.

Tarkwa (W/R), Jan 17, GNA- Mr David Yaro, Western Regional Co-ordinating Director, on Tuesday said, members of the Wassa West District Assembly needs to be equipped with the requisite knowledge to face the challenges of the work.

He told the Assembly Members to put in their maximum effort to learn about what they would be taught and also read the workshop materials in order to be abreast with the local government system in order not to be found wanting. Mr Yaro made these remarks at the opening of a four-day workshop for Wassa West District Assembly Members at Tarkwa. It was organized and sponsored jointly by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment and the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council.

Mr Yaro said understanding issues like the process of awarding contracts, one can explain things better to the people in their various communities to eliminate the incidence of rumour mongering. He said the Assembly Members were voted and appointed on merit, which meant that the people have confidence in them and therefore believe what Assembly Members tell them.

"Ensure that what you tell the people is the truth, do not go and poison them with raw data." Mr Yaro told them to be conversant with the law to know the limit within which they have to operate in order not to fall foul of it. Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Ayensu, Wassa West District Chief Executive, told the Assembly Members to work in partnership with the people to develop their communities.

The workshop is to orientate the Assembly Members to understand the Local Government system and what they are supposed to do as Assembly Members among other things.

Topics to be treated included functions of the Assemblies, gender issues in local government, procurement and contracting process at the district level and the role of Assembly Members in promoting citizens participation.