MPs/DCEs relationship crucial for good governance

Takoradi, May 24, GNA - Lack of cooperation between some District Chief Executives (DCEs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) continue to pose enormous challenges to the country's democratic dispensation, says Mr. Abraham Ossei-Aidoo, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader in Parliament.

He has therefore called on these two key governance actors and other stakeholders to collaborate more effectively to remove the "tension and apparent mistrust" between MPs and DCEs.

Mr. Ossei-Aidoo was opening a day's workshop for MPs, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief executives from the Western and Central regions in Takoradi on Saturday.

It was organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to explore ways of promoting cooperation between MPs and DCEs to enhance good governance.

He said the prevailing situation of "increasing hostility, mutual suspicion and lack of cooperation between MPs and DCEs continue to be a source of grave concern to all." Mr. Ossei-Aidoo said although MPs and DCEs belonged to different arms of government with defined roles, there was the need for them to complement each other's roles to ensure the efficient functioning of democracy.

He said as chief representatives of government, DCEs have been entrusted with enormous power that must be exercised with circumspection.

Mr. Ossei-Aidoo mentioned some of the probable causes of conflict between MPs and DCEs as when one of them oversteps his bounds or when an MP considers that he or she is being frustrated by the DCE in the performance of his or her statutory functions.

Another recipe for conflict, he said, was over the release and application of MPs Common Fund and also when a DCE is perceived as nursing ambition for the parliamentary seat or trying to sponsor another candidate for the position.

He said the ultimate objective of each actor was to achieve development for the people which could be realised only through cooperation and harmony.

Mr. Evans Anthony Amoah, Western Regional Minister, said to be able to manage the affairs of the community more effectively, the role of MPs and DCEs must always be teamwork.

He appealed to MPs and DCEs to adopt the "systems approach" to their determination to seek the best for their people since "no individual is better than the whole".

Mr. Joshua Magnus Nicol, Administrator of District Assembly Common Fund, said sitting of projects, purchases and monitoring and evaluation have been the source of misunderstanding between MPs and DCEs. Mr. Nicol said another source of conflict that was the release of MPs Common Fund had been resolved and MPs now can apply directly to the Administrator for their Common Fund.