Apam (C/R), April 3, GNA - The President of the National Association= of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives not to let criticis= ms dampen their spirits. Rather, he said, they must regard the criticisms as a challenge that=

would motivate them to work harder to achieve set goals. "We have been appointed to the positions to improve upon the living conditions of our people," Mr Aidoo-Mensah said.

Mr Aidoo-Mensah who is also the District Chief Executive for Gomoa W= est pointed out that helping to improve upon the living conditions the people=

" cannot be done without facing criticisms. "Let the criticisms strengthen us to focus but not to discourage us t= o depart from our set goals," he stressed. Mr Aidoo-Mensah advised his colleagues not to make themselves arm-ch= air executives, but should go out to make personal contacts and lobby donor agencies including non-governmental organisation (NGOs) to help their people. "With the limited national resources, the government alone cannot do=

everything for our people, therefore we must seek support from elsewhere,= " he said.

The NALAG President expressed concern about agitation of some youth for the removal of some chief executives from office, and appealed to the you= th to exercise restraint and allow the chief executives time to put things right. He appealed to his colleagues to handle such issues with tact, and th= ey should not regard the agitators as enemies. "We must give them hearing when they approach us (DCEs)," he said.