Sunyani-Saturday February 5, 2022: The Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) participated in the opening of the second of a series of a 3-day zonal refresher course on leadership and management for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) from the Bono, Ashanti, Western North and Ahafo Regions held in Sunyani.

The programme which attracted seventy (70) MMDCEs seeks to among others create the platform for the MMDCES to share their on-the-job experience; deepen understanding on issues of local governance, development and management as well as sharpen their skills to manage their respective Assemblies with business mindsets.

Delivering the welcome statement, the Bono Regional Minister, Honorable Justina Owusu-Banahene reminded participants of their role in ensuring effective service delivery at the local level and entreated them to be proactive in the delivery of services while ensuring adherence to acceptable standards and best practices emphasizing on the value for money audit of all projects.

She pledged her commitment to ensure that her Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) work closely with the MMDAs within her jurisdiction to accelerate the realization of a balanced development and improved service delivery in accordance with Article 255 of the Constitution and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936). He was hopeful that the MMDCEs would play their roles effectively to ensure the government achieve its goal of transforming the economy towards a Ghana Beyond Aid.

The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (MLDRD), Honorable Dan Botwe cautioned them to avoid needless confrontations with traditional authorities, MPs and Assembly Members; respect others and show empathy in order to gain affection of the citizenry. He also indicated that they should not be armchair administrators and engage all communities in their respective areas of jurisdiction. He admonished them to interact with the citizenry to better understand their needed and development goals and fashion out appropriate plans and programmes to address them.

Honorable Dan Botwe noted that his Ministry would enhance the District Data Development Platform (DDDP), a computerized data system to be accessed by the MMDAs, RCCs, National Development Planning Commission, Office of the Head of the Local Government Service and the Ministry of LGDRD to help provide real-time data for assessment of district operations and performance. This according to him will help in the delivery of Government programmes and projects for evidence -based decision making and policy direction at the Central government level.

Also present at the event were the Head of the Local Government Service, Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, three Deputy Ministers for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Ashanti, Bono, Western North and Ahafo Regional Ministers, Director and Registrar of the Institute of Local Government Studies as well as Directors from the MLGDRD and the Director of Planning, Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. George Ackah.

Yendi – Wednesday, February 9, 2022: Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) have been charged to ensure harmonious working relationships with traditional authorities as indispensable partners for effective decentralized local governance. The charge was given by the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, (MLGDRD) Honorable Daniel Botwe when he paid a courtesy call on His Royal Majesty, Ndan Ya-Na Abubakari II, King of Dagbon at Gbewaa Palace in Yendi.

The visit was to pay homage and inform him about an ongoing training programme for MMDCEs from the Upper West, Upper East, North East, Northern, Savannah, and Bono East Regions. The course which began on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, sought to among others create a platform to share experiences for feedback; deepen understanding of local governance, development management, and their responsibilities in the implementation of government flagship programmes.

Honorable Daniel Botwe was accompanied by two of his Deputies, Honorable O.B. Amoah, and Honorable Collins Ntim, the Northern Regional Minister, Honorable Shaibu Abubakar Saidu, the Head of the Local Government Service, Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, other government functionaries, and some MMDCEs.

Honorable Botwe praised the King for his continuous counsel, direction, and advice as well as other traditional leaders whose efforts have contributed to national development over the years. He entreated the MMDCEs to regularly engage, build effective and cordial relationships with them to ensure their support in the performance of their roles.

Ya –Na Abubakari II through a spokesperson commended the government for empowering the MMDCEs to effectively perform their roles. He also commended pragmatic steps being taken by the government to address the perennial water crises during the dry season and the limited electricity coverage within the Yendi Municipality and its environs. He requested government through Hon. Botwe to expedite work on the Yendi Water supply system and the Rural Electrification projects to make these challenges a thing of the past. Ya -Na expressed optimism that the execution of the two projects would alleviate the plights of the people of Yendi.

Tamale-Tuesday February 8, 2022: The 3rd in a series of a 3-day zonal refresher course for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) has commenced in Tamale with a call on MMDCEs to work hard towards the realization of the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo’s vision. The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Honorable Daniel Botwe made this call at the official opening of the 3-day course on leadership and management for sixty-six (66) MMDCEs drawn from the Upper West, Upper East, North East, Northern, Savannah and Bono East Regions.

Honorable Daniel Botwe encouraged MMDCEs to engage their peers and experts in order to deepen their knowledge and understanding of local governance and decentralization to improve their performance. He indicated that the Ministry will continue to promote inter-sector and agency collaboration to avoid duplication in the implementation of the Government’s initiatives.

The Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Shani Alhassan Saibu, who delivered the welcome statement, reminded MMDCEs of the importance of the course and urged them to ensure the training reflects ultimately in improved performance and service delivery. He mentioned that many District Assemblies (DAs) in his Region are unable to mobilize up to 50% of projected annual revenue, a situation which makes the Assemblies depend heavily on the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and other funding sources to perform their functions.

He hinted that the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) would intensively engage MMDAs within the Region from February 11, 2022, to tackle the issue of low revenue generation and other related matters. He underscored the important role MMDCEs play in the scheme of local governance which he said makes them the easiest point of criticism while their actions and inactions provide a reflection of the performance of the government as well as meeting the felt needs of the citizenry.

The program was graced by some government functionaries including the Head of the Local Government Service, Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, and the Director for Management and Technical Services at the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service, Mrs. Lilian Baeka.