Presidential Advisory Committee on Decentralisation inaugurated

Accra, Oct.30, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday said administration of the State over the past decades had not been successful as a result of the over centralisation of power at the seat of the government.

He, therefore, stressed the need for the decentralisation of power or an effective implementation of participatory democracy for the people to feel they were part of governance.

President Kufuor said this when administering the oaths of office and secrecy to 10 out of the 13-member Presidential Advisory Committee on Decentralisation at the Castle, Osu.

They were Mr Rex Owusu-Ansah, former Clerk of Parliament as the Chairman, Mr Edward Francois, a Civil Engineer, Mr E.C.Kotey, a retired Chief Director, Mr James Kwame Boakye, an Accountant and Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Pro Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The rest were, Mr C.N.K. Boateng, a retired Director of the Department of Town and Country Planning, Mrs Woyram Boachie-Danquah, a businesswoman, Mr Anthony Mends, a Chartered Accountant, Prince Imoro Andani, a Development Consultant and Brigadier G.N.Guomil, a retired Commander of the Second Infantry Brigade.

Three members, Mrs Nancy Thompson, retired Headmistress of Wesley Girls High School, Cape Coast, Mr Kwasi Agyeman Prempeh, a Municipal Management Consultant and Mr Sam K. Worentetu, a Market Research and Advertising Consultant, were absent.

President Kufuor asked members of the Committee, to bring experiences and standing they have acquired in their communities to bear on their work and offer government sound advice for good governance. He said with commitment, determination and co-operation from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development they could face the challenge.

"Count on government to use your advice for the betterment of the nation to make democracy work for good governance for the country", he said.

Mr Rex Owusu-Ansah, Chairman of the Committee said it was with humility that they have accepted the task to assist government in its determination to strengthen and deepen the decentralisation process. He said over the years, the smooth implementation of the decentralisation process had been fraught with inadequate resources, ineffective collaboration and lack of well focused medium to long term policy planning.

The Chairman said with government's approval of the National Decentralisation Action Plan, it would have opportunity for an objective and well assessed approach to decentralisation and its implementation. He appealed to civil society and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to contribute to the partnership in the decentralisation process and pledged the Committee's commitment to offer advice that could not be turned down.

Mr Owusu-Ansah appealed to the sector ministry to endeavour to provide the needed tools and support to the Committee to deliver well for the country.

Present was Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President.