Sunyani West Assembly members receive training in next generation local governance leadership

A two-day certificate training workshop has been organised for Assembly Members in the Sunyani West Municipality to strengthen their leadership skills and capacity in local governance.

The training, held at the Municipal Assembly Hall, was organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) under its Next Generation Local Governance Leadership programme.

The workshop was designed to equip Assembly Members with the competencies required to identify and analyse challenges confronting their communities, reflect on possible solutions and develop innovative strategies to address local development needs.

It also sought to promote a change in mindset among Assembly Members and strengthen their capacity to effectively perform their deliberative, legislative, representative, executive and oversight responsibilities at the local government level.

The programme further exposed participants to the experiences of successful national leaders who had followed similar leadership paths, while providing opportunities to identify, network and empower emerging local leaders to serve as role models within their communities.

Participants received training in several areas, including decentralisation and local governance laws, corporate governance and oversight responsibilities, the representative functions of Assembly Members, deliberative functions and meeting procedures, the making and enforcement of by-laws, executive mandates and discretionary powers of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, as well as leadership and community mobilisation.

They were encouraged to make conscious efforts to familiarise themselves with the Local Governance Act, Model Standing Orders of the Assembly and other relevant legislative instruments governing local government.

Facilitators noted that a strong understanding of these legal frameworks would enable Assembly Members to participate more effectively in deliberations, debates and decision-making processes at the Assembly.

Addressing participants during the training, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwasi Asante-Boateng (Esq.), said the programme was necessary to ensure that Assembly Members were adequately prepared to understand emerging local governance challenges and respond effectively to them.

He expressed optimism that the knowledge and skills acquired would enhance the performance of the Assembly Members and contribute to addressing the developmental needs of the Sunyani West Municipality.

The MCE urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop in their respective electoral areas to improve community engagement, accountability and local development.