We shall give power back to the people -Mills

The President, John Evans Atta Mills has indicated that since governance is by the people and for the people, his administration would ensure that power is given to the people at the local level to determine their growth and development.

The President, who bemoaned the protracted phenomenon where power is taken away from the people, assured that his government would ensure that all District, Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives across the country would be made to consult with the local people and give vivid account of their budgetary allocations, before undertaking their annual developmental projects.

This, he said, would not only deepen Ghana's democratic system or bring about transparency and accountability, but would also ensure better understanding of the people in the decentralization system.

The Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, announced this on behalf of the President, John Evans Atta Mills at the first ever Town Hall Meeting held in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital recently.

Apart from supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) who deliberately refused to participate in the meeting, citing security reasons, the maiden Town Hall Meeting at the Tamale Teachers Hall was peaceful, well organised and also saw several hundreds residents of the Metropolis in attendance.

The programme was not without some disagreements when some traditional rulers who did not apparently understand the whole concept of the meeting and its new sitting arrangement, were unhappy to see some of their colleague chiefs seated at the high table while they were not permitted there. This was, however, resolved.

In attendance were the Communication Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, Local Government Minister, Yileh Chireh, Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina and his Deputy, Moses Bukari Mabengba and some Members of Parliament.

The Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina passionately appealed to the government to critically develop the road network in the region to match with its vision of enhancing economic activities in the area. Out of the 20 districts in the region, only Walewale, Savelugu, Tamale, Central Gonja and Yendi districts have access roads because of their location along the Kumasi and Bolgatanga highways.

Mr. Nayina said even though the region was endowed with several mineral resources and huge tracts of land for agricultural purposes, its developmental rate had been slow. He stressed that it would require the concerted efforts of the government, investors and the citizenry to bring real development to the Northern Region, including the two Upper Regions.

Mr. Sumani Nayina cited the deposits of clinker, limestone, iron ore and gold among others, which could be tapped to develop the area and empower its people. According to him, there are serious developmental challenges such as illiteracy, maternal and infant mortality, hunger, lack of portable drinking water, coupled with the inaccessible roads linking farming communities.

On his part, the Minister for Local and Rural Development, Joseph Yileh Chireh reiterated that accountability and transparency means that all District, Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives should be ready to meet the people at very short notice and explain to them how development projects were being initiated.

He charged the Chief Executives to accept suggestion and constructive criticisms from the people on how they want development to take place. The Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday used the platform to outline some of the development initiatives of his administration, and called on the people to preserve the prevailing peace in Tamale to foster development.

He assured the nation of his readiness to ensuring absolute peace in the area, through the Bilchinsi Peace Advisory Committee, the Metro Security Committee and the Regional Security Council, to pave way for investors.