President opens conference of Chief Executives

Takoradi, Dec. 15, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday cautioned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives against using their office as a platform to gain entry into Parliament. He gave the caution when opening the 2006 Annual Review Conference of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (DCEs) at Takoradi.

President Kufuor asked them to be careful and not to compromise the office, warning that any Chief Executive who abused his office would be relieved of his duty.

He said reports showed that some DCEs had done very well while others have tended to be arrogant and self-serving.

President Kufuor used the occasion to commend those, who have done well adding that those who have fallen short must know that they did not reflect well on the Government.

He said: "As President, I will not condone and connive at their misconduct and they are, therefore, advised to quickly reform or have themselves to blame."

President Kufuor asked the DCEs to keep in mind that the Government at the end of the day would be measured by the quality of their service; timely response to issues as they arose and harmonious relationship with members of the community. He said: "I trust that you will all try to perform by these principles from now on".

President Kufuor said the effective discharge of their role would assist the country in its pursuit of sustainable development in line with its Growth and Poverty-Reduction Strategy and the United Nation (UN) Millennium Development Goals.

He said a good DCE must see it as his or her primary responsibility to ensure that the treasury department was efficiently managed, both in the raising and disbursement of revenue.

President Kufuor said in this regard, the financial regulations must be strictly adhered to with due regard to the authorities of their district assemblies.

He said innovative strategies for mobilizing internally-generated funds to complement the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) and other funds such as the HIPC, assigned to the districts must be discussed and approved by their district assemblies.

President Kufuor said to give meaning to the policy of decentralization; Chief Executives and their assemblies must know that, to a large measure, they were accountable to their districts for the management of resources.

President Kufuor said the efficient performance of the treasury departments of district assemblies was the pivot around which the successful execution of the mandate of DCEs revolved.

He said, "It goes without saying that at the end of the day you will be judged largely by the success of the treasury department."

President Kufuor welcomed the re-introduction of sanitary inspection teams and urged sanitary inspectors to become positive agents of change within the society and not individuals, who would use their positions to harass members of the communities for self-serving ends. He urged the 23 districts that have been selected for the Millennium Challenge Account to see themselves as pilot areas and to ensure the success of projects.

President Kufuor said responsibility for the preparation of the Golden Jubilee of the nation's independence falls on both central and local governments and the DECs must lead their district assemblies in playing their part throughout the country.

Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, said the DCEs had generally performed creditably during the year by upholding good governance and generating internal revenue as directed by President Kufuor. Mr Asamoah-Boateng said there were few lapses and failures but these were corrected after criticism from stakeholders. He commended the Government for bringing down inflation and improving the country's Gross Domestic Product. Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the Ministry has introduced some innovations to make local governance effective. Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister, noted that the sanitation drive introduced by the Ministry recently was making the desired impact at the community level. Awulae Attibrukusu III, President of the Western Region House of Chiefs and Omanhene of Lower Axim Traditional Area, presided. 15 Dec. 06