‘MMDAs must be proactive’

Alhaji Abdul-Basit Fuseini, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, has called on the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly executives (MMDAs) to be proactive and eschew procrastination in the implementation of projects.

He explained that the MMDAs’ procrastination retards economic growth, which affects the vulnerable in society and the nation will also not be able to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

He said the core mandate of the MMDAs is working to improve the livelihood of the people who voted government into power to manage the resources for developmental projects.

The Deputy Minister urged the executives to avoid any lukewarm attitude toward issues of the people which can generate into conflict and thus deter investors from moving into the district to contribute their quota.

Alhaji Fuseini said this at a meeting in Tamale to deliberate on issues affecting the region.

Some of the issues include the state of the street-naming exercise, and preparation of the District Medium-Term Plans by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.

The meeting, organised by the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) with the MMDAs, also aimed at addressing issues confronting the Assembly and the way forward to ensure economic growth.

Alhaji Fuseini expressed worry about the rate at which the region has for the past few months been experiencing numerous conflicts, which does not auger well for development of the area.

He advised the MMDAs not to remain lukewarm toward early warning signals of conflicts, but rather act swiftly in averting any trouble and also liaise with the regional coordinating council for further resolution.

He said many of the assemblies in the region were in financial crisis with no single project to be executed due to conflicts, stating that the little resources coming into the assemblies are diverted toward conflict management.

He urged the MMDAs and the DCEs to find pragmatic measures of generating revenues to address issues confronting the assemblies, and not over-rely on government.

Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku, Chief Director, NRCC, said the issue of maternal health is critical to the government, saying that ensuring the healthy condition of women in society will enable them to contribute their quota in supporting the family and the nation at large.