Local Government Service To Ensure Improved Quality Of Service

The Local Government Service (LGS) has organized inter-service, sectoral collaboration and cooperation workshop to forge stronger partnerships among state organizations and the non-state sectors to improve the quality of service delivery.

The goal is to enhance existing collaboration and cooperation among institutions and agencies of the state.

Alhaji Alhanssan Sulemana, the Upper West Regional Minister, in a speech read for him, said it was important state organizations worked together to improve service delivery to the citizenry.

'In this way we can avoid the issues of overlaps and duplications from functions,' he added.

Inter service and sectoral collaboration and cooperation would encourage planning and implementation of programmes and projects at the regional and district levels.

'Hence the need for an inter-service and sectoral collaboration at the local level cannot be overemphasized,' he added.

Dr Nana Ato Arthur, the Head of the Office of the Local Government Service, whose speech was also read on his behalf noted that in the discharge of the mandates of state institutions, some issues of overlaps, duplications and conflicts might occur during the planning and implementation of projects and programmes.

The resolution of such issues to ensure effective service delivery, he added, required an effective inter-service and sectoral inter-collaboration and cooperation mechanisms.

He said such mechanisms among institutions helped to facilitate unity of effort, common understanding of development issues, a common platform to work, achievement of objectives and served as an effective system for integrated service delivery.

He said the system took various forms including inter-institutional engagement, networking and communication, coordination of functions, resource and service sharing, capacity development, definition of reporting relationships, conflict resolution and joint service delivery among others.

The inter-service and collaboration and cooperation system was developed for adoption and use by all partners on the strength of the provisions in the Local Service Act 2003 (Act656).

The Act was amended into the Local Government Service, 2016, (Act936) section 63(4) (c).

It states: 'The head of the Local Government Service shall establish systems of effective inter-service and sectoral collaboration and co-operation between the service and other public services to harmonise local government programmes and avoid duplication with the approval of the council'.

The expected impact of the system includes improved legal, constitutional, regulatory and Institutional conflicts as well as judicious use of resources and improved participation.

It also enhances transparency and accountability in service delivery, improved local economy, poverty reduction, employment generation and general rise in household income, enhance social cohesion, gender mainstreaming in service delivery and improved environmental conditions.

'We have organized this forum to remind ourselves of the importance and benefit we would realize from collaborating and cooperating at all levels for national development,' Dr Arthur said.

He pointed out that without this the government's agenda for economic transformation may face sustainability challenges after the facilities had been approved.