´MMDCES should collaborate to enhance dev´t´

The Outgoing Central Regional Minister Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah has called for a strong collaboration between assembly members and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCES) to enhance the development of the various assemblies.

He pointed out that the operations of the various MMDAs should not be based on partisan politics but rather it should be focused on the development needs of the various assemblies.

Mr Quansah was speaking at the Central Regional, National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) Delegates Conference in Cape Coast, said it was unfortunate that most of the district assemblies had been politicized making it difficult for them to take concrate decisions in the development of their areas .

The conference which was to take stock of the region’s NALAG activities was also used to elect a regional representative who would add up to the national officers to be elected later to constitute the National Executive Council of the Association for a two-year-term.

The out-going Regional Minister tasked the assembly members as well as the Presiding members to leave their political affiliations behind them and look at a larger picture which is the development need of the various assemblies and not political parties.

He gave the assurance that the government would continue to support the activities of NALAG and urged them to elect competent people who can successfully steer the affairs of the association.

Mr Alex Kojo Appiah Presiding member of Mfantseman Municipal assembly who polled 57 votes was elected as the Central Regional Representative .

He beat two other contestants Mr Anthony Kwabena Amoako the incumbent and PM of Asikum-Odoben-Brakaw district who got 27votes while Mr Samuel Atta-Mensah of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly polled five votes.

Alhaji Mohammed Doku National President of NALAG commended the members for successfully electing their regional representative and urged them to give him the needed support to perform his duties effectively.

Touching on the achievements of NALAG in the past two years, he said the Association has been able to revive all its stalled relationships with its partners at the national and international levels.

He said a database on the various MMDAs has been established to enhance the visibility of NALAG, adding that a new strategic business plan for the association has also been instituted.

Alhaji Doku who is also the District Chief Executive of Asunafo North district , said in the almost 40 years of its existence as NALAG, the current national executives have managed to open some regional secretariats for the association.