Kufuor Commissions Local Government
President John Agyekum Kufuor yesterday launched the Local Government Service (LGS), a public service organization established to address the human resource needs of Local Government Reform in the country.
The service is mandated to secure the effective administration and management of local government in Ghana, and ensure greater inclusiveness in the governance system with enhanced community participation and improved planning and service delivery.
Launching the new service, President Kufuor said it was a “ major step to transform the machinery of government in line with the 1992 constitution, which states that: 'Ghana shall have a system of Local Government and Administration which shall, as far as practicable, be decentralized.”
He noted that government had made significant investments towards good governance, promotion of community participation in decision-making and improvement of services within the community.
He pointed out that efficiency in public administration had always been the cherished goal of government, indicating that “government would be pleased if the citizenry was able to access services with little or no trouble at all”.
On government's expectation with the inception of the service, the President pointed out that “government expects very much indeed” from it.
He appealed to the new service to co-ordinate its policies and programmes with other public services like Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana Health Service (GHS) for shared insights and experience in providing for the community.
He urged the Ministry of Local Government to ensure that District Assemblies adhered to the newly introduced financial procedures and practices for addressing real and perceived financial weaknesses.
President Kufuor announced that about 3000 staff within the civil service were being transferred for the benefit of the LGS.
Unveiling the logo of the LGS, which had symbols like the map of Ghana, the Adinkra Symbol- Tikro Nko Agyina (One head does not go into council) and the motto:
“Decentralization, Democracy and Development,” President Kufuor said to be consistent with the motto, the LGS should ensure that services are made available where they are needed while best practices are adhered to.
Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, attributed the delay in the establishment of the LGS which took ten years to lack of political will.
Answering his own question, 'What will be the role of the Ministry now', he explained that with the launch of the service, the sector Ministry would concentrate on policy matters as well as monitoring and evaluating of the LGS.
“The Local Government Service would now be involved in Human Resource development, performance and audit management, and above all, give technical assistance,” he said.
The LGS has a 13-member council with Nana Boachie-Danquah, as Chairman.
When he took his turn, the chairman of the council explained that the motto was adopted because “these three qualities put together would help in the achievement of development in any country.”
He mentioned that units such as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, Urban, Town Area and Zonal councils as well as unit committees will work under the Regional Coordinating Council.
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, Omanhene of Sefwi-Bekwai and President of the National House of Chiefs, who chaired the function, lauded the establishment of the service.
He called for the inclusion of traditional leaders, who he said played a very important role at the grassroots in the local governance process.
By Emelia Ennin