Govt investigating alleged malfeasance in assemblies

Koforidua, Feb. 20, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama, on Friday, said the Government was investigating reports of malfeasance against District, Municipal Metropolitan Chief Executives and cautioned that those found to have abused their offices would be legally dealt with. He mentioned some of the cases of malfeasance as disregard for laid down financial and stores regulations, improper disbursements and misapplication of funds and irregular financial returns.

Vice President Mahama said this when he opened a three-day review conference for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives at Koforidua.

Some Regional Ministers are also attending the conference, which is under the theme: "Sustainable Development through Good Governance and Wealth Creation."

Vice President Mahama described as unacceptable the practice of some districts not producing regular monthly trial balance to show the financial state of the assemblies, saying this made it impossible for the centre to assess the performance of the assemblies. He, however, expressed contentment that most assemblies were utilising financial resources judiciously to meet the basic needs of their people.

He advised the DCEs to be innovative, resourceful and disciplined in the management of the affairs of their assemblies to ensure utmost benefit of projects to their people.

The Vice President asked them to develop fruitful relationships with other public officials, chiefs and civil society groups for the progress of their areas.

Good governance for poverty reduction and growth through employment and wealth creation, he said, had been the guiding principles in the formulation of the policies of the Government.

"Sustainable development through good governance and balanced development can be achieved by strengthening the administrative capacity of District Assemblies and deepening their collaboration with civil society," he stressed.

In line with this, he said, the Government instituted a number of far-reaching measures, which would enlarge the frontiers of the decentralization process.

These included, the Local Government Service Act, the preparation of a draft National Decentralization Action Plan and the setting up of a Presidential Advisory Committee on decentralization to provide the necessary policy guidance.

Additionally, Dangbe East, Dangbe West and Akuapem North districts were being supported to prepare composite budgets under pilot basis.

On the forthcoming elections, the Vice President Mahama advised the DCEs, who chair District Security Committees, to help the Government to achieve its vision for a peaceful, free and fair elections by acting promptly to avert situations that would bring conflicts.

"Do not underestimate any situation with security implications that occur in your areas but monitor carefully events affecting chieftaincy, religious and political activities and take prompt action on them when the need arises," he advised.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, in a welcoming address, reminded the DCEs that "the road is not that smooth" as they had an uphill task ahead of them, especially in an election year to meet the development needs of their people.

The Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Emeritus Professor Oti Boateng, who chaired the function, called on District Assemblies to establish efficient multi-purpose computerised database with information on the demographic, social and economic characteristics of the people and properties in their areas to enhance planning and revenue mobilisation.

He called for a comprehensive house numbering system to make identification easier, reduce the cost of doing business, facilitate the delivery of goods and services and improve information flow. Daasebre Oti Boateng stressed the need for close linkage between DCEs and traditional rulers in order to synchronise their experiences to further the socio-economic development of their areas. Among the dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony was the Minister of the Interior, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman.