Sub-structures vital in local governance system

Sekondi, Sept. 7, GNA - Mr Philip K. Nkrumah, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive, has said the decentralisation process could only succeed if the various sub-structures played their expected roles efficiently.

He said without the sub-structures it would be difficult to achieve any meaningful decentralisation process.

Mr Nkrumah said these at a day's workshop organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Environment and Rural Development in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at Sekondi recently.

The workshop, which was on the theme; "Developing Vibrant Local Citizens' Initiative for Effective Decentralisation," was attended by unit committee members, religious bodies, women's groups, civil society, chiefs and non-governmental organisations.

The workshop aimed at reawakening public enthusiasm and interest in issues relating to political, social, economics and the environment in their respective communities.

Mr Nkrumah said participants were expected to engage in private-public dialogue on local governance irrespective of their educational and social backgrounds.

He said the 1992 Constitution mandated the various district assemblies and their sub-structures to ensure an effective implementation of the process. "Ghanaians have chosen democracy and its principles and it could successfully be implemented if various components were established", he said.

He said the Government had committed itself to good governance and the promotion of democratic principles at all levels and would not relent in its efforts.

Mr Patrick A. Asumadu, a planning officer of the MLGERD, said that local governance should motivate Ghanaians to closely participate in the day-to-day administration of their districts. He, therefore, appealed to the various assemblies and sub-structures of the assemblies to closely work in collaboration with their respective communities.