Decentralisation concept holds key to Development-Woyongo

February 04, 2010
Bolgatanga Feb. 4, GNA - The Decentralised concept of governance holds the key to the rapid development of the country side, Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister has noted.

"The concept has the major provision of government mandating its various arms in the regions and districts to operate without waiting for orders," he said.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Bolgatanga, he said there were some aspects of the concept such as financial decentralisation that need to be looked at.

Mr. Woyongo said effective implementation of financial decentralisation would enable payment be done at the local treasury to facilitate the fast execution of projects.

He cited instances where local contractors had to travel to Accra to contact the authorities for the payment of contracts.

The Regional Minister noted that the difficulties the contractors go through sometimes discourage them from undertaking government assignments.

He suggested the need for central government to decentralise the awarding of contracts that cover the Ghana Education Development Authority, Feeder Roads among other institutions to ensure effective monitoring and supervision of projects and reduce the delay of contract completion.

Commenting on the relationship between the traditional decentralised concept and that of formal government, Mr. Woyongo said the two parties played a complementary role in the development of the people.

However the Chief of the Binduri Traditional Area, Naba Akolbila Robert Agepwin told the GNA in Bolgatanga that government's decentralisation concept conflicted with the traditional decentralised system.

He said government had taken over the role of chiefs in revenue mobilisation, dispensation of justice and development in general,

Naba Akolbila suggested the need for the law courts to allow the traditional courts to handle family issues and other cases which are less technical to ensure the smooth dispensation of justice.

GNA