body-container-line-1
20.01.2007 General News

'Make Yourselves Approachable'

20.01.2007 LISTEN
By Matthew Ayoo, Wa

District Chief Executives(DCEs) have been asked to do away with arrogance and make themselves available and approachable.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Ambrose Dery, gave the advice when he addressed a day’s meeting of municipal and district chief executives here recently.

It was attended by all the eight District Chief Executives of the region who discussed issues militating against development and the way forward.

Mr. Dery said if DCE’s made themselves approachable, they could together with the people fashion out policies and programmes to address high illiteracy, poverty and diseases that are endemic at the rural community level.

Mr. Dery told the DCEs: 'You are J.A. Kufuor at the district level. You must reflect the presidency and the President at the local level.'

He urged the DCEs to be humble and at all times be guided by the rule of law which is a basic obligation of the assemblies of which they are Chief Executives.

Mr. Dery tasked DCEs to monitor the school feeding programme to ensure that children were not only adequately fed but under hygienic conditions.

He also urged them to check on the activities of basic school heads and PTAs to ensure that the capitation grant was used in the best interest of the child.

The Regional Minister asked DCEs to strictly supervise projects awarded on contracts to ensure that contractors deliver according to the agreement.

'Mobilise the people to maintain the facilities on a sustainable basis,' Mr Dery challenged the DCEs.

Mr. Dery advised DCEs to be humble and accept mistakes when they do occur and pointed out to them adding 'You must at all times, strictly go by the procurement law to reduce corruption in the procurement sector'.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Wa, Mac Adams Banda, in a welcome address said the assemblies have drawn up medium term development plans in line with the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II to help address the development challenges of the respective districts.

Mr. Banda pledged the commitment of his colleagues to work towards realising President Kufuor’s vision of making Ghana just, humane and prosperous for all Ghanaians.

body-container-line