Unit Committees Need To Be Resourced

Unit Committee members in the Sekyere Kumawu District, in the Ashanti region, have appealed to government to take pragmatic steps to strengthen Unit Committees, to enable them play their roles effectively in the decentralization process.

Mr. Addae Owusu, the Unit Committee Chairman for Kumawu-Bodomase electoral area, who made the appeal, said the Unit Committees were the first and direct point of contact for community members on issues relating to local governance, conflict resolution and development of rural communities.

However, it seems the Unit Committees had been relegated to the background, especially in the provision and distribution of logistics and incentives to facilitate their work.

Speaking at a town hall meeting organized by the District Assembly at Oyoko, Mr Owusu said it was time the Unit Committees were treated the same way as the assembly members.

This would not only help strengthen the local governance system but would also help boost the morale of committee members and promote active interest in the Unit Committee concept.

The town hall meeting was to create a platform for the local government officials and other key stakeholders to interact with the people and explain the various development projects and programmes.

It was also to offer opportunity to the people in the communities to raise concerns and seek redress for their developmental challenges.

The meeting brought together traditional leaders, heads of departments and agencies, security officers, civil society organizations, development partners in the district, as well as members of the public.

Mr. Owusu urged the government to consider the efforts and contributions of Unit Committee members in the democratic governance system of the country, particularly, at the community level and provide them with the needed logistics such as motorbikes to help them discharge their duties effectively.

Mr. Samuel Addai Agyekum, the District Chief Executive urged the Unit Committee members not to be discouraged and assured them of government's readiness to consider all their concerns.