District Assemblies require more financial support

Kumasi, Nov 19, GNA - Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, said some district assemblies would require more financial support to enable them to establish income-generating ventures to make them self-sustaining instead of depending on the District Assembly Common Fund.

He noted that due to inadequate funds, some of the district assemblies were not able to perform up to expectation apart from those with solid economic base such as mining and trade and commerce. Mr Boafo made the observations when 13 members of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on Decentralisation on tour to familiarise themselves with the functioning of local government structures in the districts and the regions called on him in Kumasi.

Mr Boafo reiterated calls that District Chief Executives should be elected to make them accountable to the people and thus be committed to find lasting solutions to the problems facing their respective districts.

Mr Edward Francois, the acting chairman of PAC, who led the delegation, said their fact-finding mission would take them to the Ashanti and Volta regions.

He said in Ashanti they would visit the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Obuasi and Nkawie and interact with groups of people to sample views on how the decentralisation system could be enhanced.