Ignorance affecting performance of local assemblies

Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - Ignorance of the decentralization system by assembly members, unit committee members and majority of the staff of the district assemblies has been blamed for the difficulties experienced in local governance administration. The trend of people electing their local representatives but failing to demand accountability from them is also a matter of concern, Mr Ibrahim Baidoo, Assembly Member for Maanmomo Electoral Area, in the Ashaiman Municipality, has said. He was addressing the Second Youth Governance Forum, organized by the Nimba Community Support Services (Nimcoss), with support from Ibis-Ghana, for residents of Ashaiman. The Governance Forum is a platform where residents dialogue with their political representatives and other duty-bearers for informed and participatory governance in the community. He stressed that the refusal of many assembly members to learn more about the decentralization concept was not helping matters, and admonished his colleagues to take part in relevant seminars to upgrade their knowledge towards improving their performance. Mr Baidoo called on the electorate to elect assembly members who were willing to sacrifice for the development of their areas. According to the Assembly member, the failure to pay tolls and other taxes imposed for developmental initiatives and failure of many residents to honour invitations by the assemblies to discuss developmental issues were unhealthy. He also condemned the infiltration of partisan politics into the activities of the district assemblies, saying it was inimical to the progress of the local assembly and asked for its end.