Awutu Bawjiase, April 29, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, has urged chiefs and queen mothers to hold District Assemblies accountable for their under development. Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe said under the decentralization policy, assemblies were made agents for planning in the districts and based on that a certain percentage of the national income was ceded to them for development projects.

She made the call at a meeting of the Awutu Senya District Assembly to confirm Mr. Nuhu Adams, President John Evans Atta Mills' nominee for the post of District Chief Executive at Awutu Bereku on Tuesday. Mr. Adams polled 23 out of the 33 votes cast to get the nod. Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said when the communities hold the assemblies accountable; they in turn would hold their chief executives to do the right thing, since they are also accountable to the assemblies. She said DCEs were supposed to seek approval from the assemblies before initiating any major development.

She noted with concern that chiefs or communities often chose to circumvent the process by holding chief executives accountable leaving the assemblies.

The Regional Minister said if the process was followed, members would show more responsibilities of involving themselves in revenue generation for the assemblies.

Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe stressed on the need to make the lower structures of the assemblies functional to enhance community mobilization. Mr. Adams expressed gratitude to the President for giving him the opportunity to serve his people.

He also thanked members of the assembly for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work closely with members of the assembly and chiefs for the development of the area.