Nkoranza (B/A), June 21, GNA - Alhaji Haruna Abdul-Salam, Nkoranza South District Coordinating Director (DCD), has urged Assembly Members to work as role models and help initiate programmes that would change the lifestyles of the people.

He was addressing the Assembly Members at a two-day orientation workshop, aimed at enhancing their capacity on the Local Government Concept and the District Assembly System.

"As leaders in the communities you are required to develop knowledge and skills that would enable you to lead and organise the electorate to play their roles and honour their responsibilities towards the development of the district.

He called on the Assembly Members to apply their knowledge and experiences to contribute effectively towards the implementation of the Assembly's policies and programmes to promote the accelerated development of the area.

Alhaji Abdul-Salam explained that there was no discrimination at the Assembly level, pertaining to elected Assembly Members and government appointees, since they all represented the entire communities of the District Assembly.

The DCD called on the Assembly members to unite and coordinate their views as well as maintain trust and confidence among themselves to help improve the living conditions of the people.

Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive enjoined the Assembly Members to support the management of the Assembly to develop the district.

He urged them to educate the people about their roles and responsibilities, as citizens of the country, to enable them to play their respective roles for development.

The DCE commended the Institute for Local Government Studies (IFLGS), for funding the organisation of the workshop, which he said, would keep the Assembly Members abreast with time and help contribute effectively towards the growth of the Assemblies.

The District Development Planning Officer, Mr Ebenezer Amoah called on the Assembly members to educate the people to honour their tax obligations to enable the assembly to complete development projects in the communities.

Mr Amoah said the Assembly could not rely solely on the Common Fund for development programmes, hence the need to pay their taxes to support the common fund.

Alhaji A.Y.M.B. Ibrahim, District Director of Education, in-charge of Central Gonja, in the Northern Region, who was a resource person at the workshop, advised Assembly Members not to play politics with the Assembly system, as the practice could have adverse effect on the Assembly's development.

He called on the participants to recognize the important role of traditional authorities and unit committees.

He asked members of the Assembly to team up with the two equally important bodies in initiating development programmes in the communities.

Topics discussed included 93Roles and Responsibilities of Functionaries of the Local Government System", "The Committee System of the Assembly", 93Resources Mobilization, Contemporary issues in local Governance" and 93Enhancing participation and Accountability in the Management of the Assemblies".