Make district assemblies sub-structures functional - Chief

Eguafo (C/R), May 8, GNA - The President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Kwamina Ansah IV, has called on the Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to address issues impeding the work of local government sub-structures. Nana Ansah, who is also the Paramount Chief of Eguafo Traditional Area pointed out that the Local Government Act 462 of 1993 and the Local Government Studies Act in 2003 have not made any meaningful impact on the realisation, of the objectives of bringing central administration to the doorsteps of the people.

He made the call in an address read on his behalf at a forum organised by Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) District Directorate of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at Eguafo as part of the celebration of the fifth National Constitution Week.

Nana Ansah was not happy that Unit Committees, the axis on which the assemblies revolved could not be made to play their roles efficiently and had weakened the decentralisation programme.

Neenyi F.K.A. Tagoe, District Director of the NCCE urged key players in local governance such as District Chief Executives, Assembly Members, Urban/Town and Area Councils, Chiefs and Unit Committee members to regard each other as partners in development and not competitors. He advised urban, town and area councillors to have up to date knowledge of development programmes and interventions for poverty reduction, to help the people to access them.

Nana Ansah urged the assemblies to give adequate training to members of the sub-structures to enable them to function effectively.