Mills Town Hall concept to be more consultative

Accra, June 13, GNA- Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson, has called on governance institutions at the local level, to embrace the Town Hall idea of President John Evans Atta Mills, to enhance their consultative approach to governance.

Not only would the Town Hall concept bring all ideas on board, but the periodic meetings would also help to build a better consensus on what should be done to change and improve the community, he said. Mr Ayariga made the suggestion at the closing of a five-day orientation workshop at the weekend, for 158 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief executives, at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), in Accra.

At the opening of the course, President Mills urged the chief executives to avoid creating a barrier between them and their communities, and adopt a more consultative approach and open their doors for the voices of the people to be heard.

The course on the theme: "Chief Executives as Agents in Participatory Local Development," was to prepare the executives to assume the mantle of their office and equip them with the basic rudiments of effective local government administration. Mr Ayariga said the Town Hall would discuss projects to be undertaken, resources, priorities and who should be involved in the projects.

He said the meetings would be more of agenda setting, rather than accountability focus of the hitherto People's Assembly. Mr Ayariga said the Office of the President would work with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, to establish the priorities of the Town Hall.

"There is a firm belief that it is a more effective tool to mobilize the people to achieve the "better Ghana agenda," he said, adding that the ILGS and government agencies would soon draft the form of the meetings and the involvement of the chief executives so that the system would not be manipulated.

Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of the Interior schooled the participants on conflicts prevention and management and the maintenance of security. He urged them to exhibit a high sense of competence and bring their expertise to bear on the management of the districts. Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development performed the closing ceremony on behalf of President Mills. Certificates were awarded to the participants.