Lack of knowledge on Revised Decentralization Policy affecting development

Bolgatanga, July 7, GNA - The lack of knowledge on the revised decentralization policy is affecting development at the Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs), in the Upper East Region.

The President of the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), Mr Bismark Ayorogo Adongo, made the observation during a policy education seminar, organized by NORPRA and IBIS Ghana, for Assembly and Unit Committee members from the Bolgatanga Municipal and Bongo District Assemblies.

The theme for the seminar is 93the Revised Decentralization Policy, Implications for an Accelerated Local Level Development".

Mr Adongo urged the participants to be interested in knowing the extent to which the revised decentralization policy was making local government authorities perform their=A0core responsibilities to deliver quality service and also meet local level demands.

"To be able to effectively discharge your duties as local government actors, Assembly and unit committee members needs to have adequate information on the policy objective and measures of the revised decentralization policy of Ghana", he stressed.

He explained that the decentralization policy, which dates back to the 1980s, was confronted with a number of challenges, which necessitated the revision in 2010.

Some of these challenges, he noted were inadequate resources for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to effectively implement their development projects, poor functioning of the sub-district structures, election or appointment of Municipal and District Chief Executives and little or no motivation for Assembly and Unit committee members.

The Programme Officer of IBIS-Ghana, in-charge of the Upper East Region and the Presiding Member (PM) of the Bongo District Assembly, Mr Alexis Ayamdor said the reforms, which were initiated in 1992, called for the inclusion of Members of Parliament into the District Assembly System, the introduction of the District Assemblies Common Fund and the development of model standing orders for the conduct of Assembly business.

He reiterated the need for Assembly and Unit Committee members to take keen interest in the development of their respective areas by lobbying for projects and advocating for projects at the Assembly level.