The government will continue to strengthen local government structures

Regional news for Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Source: GNA

2020-09-01

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Augustine Collins Ntim, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has reiterated the government’s commitment to improve structures to help strengthen the decentralization process and transform local governance.

The focus is to empower Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) to meet the priority needs of people in local communities.

Addressing the inaugural meeting of the Sekyere-Kumawu District Assembly town hall in Kumawu, he said that the proper and efficient functioning of local government structures was critical to achieving the government’s goal of improving people’s lives, especially those of rural communities.

Mr. Ntim mentioned the numerous socio-economic and development government interventions, such as planting for food and employment (PFJ), planting for export and rural development (PERD), the special rice initiative (SPI), farming for Food and Employment (RFJ), among others, and said that all this had been achieved as a result of the effective structures implemented in the MMDAs and the improvement of staff capacity in these departments.

He said the essence of the town hall meeting was to create a platform for all stakeholders and individuals in the district to evaluate and analyze the performance of the District Assembly over the past year, and identify some of the gaps for improvement.

It was also to present to the people, the government policies, projects and programs implemented so far, the successes and challenges encountered, and also, to seek suggestions and strategies to repair and maintain the achievements.

Once again, the town hall meeting was to promote accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness in local governance at all levels.

Mr. Ntim urged MMDAs to broadly involve their communities in prioritizing their needs and to integrate their input into the selection and implementation of development projects in their communities to ensure acceptability, ownership, and sustainability. Mr. Philip Basoah, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, reiterated the crucial need for the decentralization process as a catalyst for socio-economic development and nation building. He said that for the decentralization process to be successful and impactful, it is necessary for all stakeholders to be integrated, such as traditional and religious organizations, civil society organizations and the people.

Mr. Samuel Addai Agyekum, District Executive Director (DCE), presenting the overview of the contributions of the government and the District Assembly to the development of the District, commended the traditional authorities and Assembly Members for their continued support to facilitate development projects in their communities.

Ensured the people judicious use of Internally Generated Funds (IGF), the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), the District Development Fund / Facility (DDF) and other funds received by the Assembly on behalf of the people, for the cause of development. in all necessary areas such as education, health, agriculture, roads and other infrastructures.

The DCE said the District Assembly was prioritizing tourism and PERD, of which large investments were being made in growing cash crops such as cashew, papaya and oil palm to help positively change the economic fortunes of people in the area.

The Assembly was also building more classroom blocks, health facilities, roads, market structures, mechanized wells, among others to help improve social infrastructure in communities to improve people’s living conditions.

Nana Amakwah Adiyaa II, head of Akotosu and Nana Okyere Barfour, head of Amanfrom, praised the government and the District Assembly for the socio-economic development in the area and promised the willingness of the traditional council to collaborate and support the District Assembly and the government to meet its development goals.