MMDAs urged to double efforts at mobilising resources

Mr Ishmael Ashitey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, has asked Metropolitan and Municipal District Assemblies (MMDAs) to double their efforts in mobilising resources in their areas of Jurisdiction.

This, he explained, would help complement the Government's efforts in bringing development to the citizenry.

He has, therefore, charged Assembly members to lead in the effective mobilisation, creative exploitation and utilisation of the available human, financial and material resources in the local environment, while being directly accountable to the people for whom they represent at the assembly.

"The destiny of our nation lies in the collective hands of all you gathered here, our people are looking up to you to provide and implement policies necessary for poverty alleviation and wealth creation," he said.

Mr Ashitey said this in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Nii-Amarh Ashitey, the Director Human Resource of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), at an orientation programme held in Accra for the Government’s appointed assembly members, on Friday.

The event, organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, aimed at increasing participants’ knowledge on the country's Local Governance Framework, Legislations, Policies and Regulations, as well as their roles and responsibilities.

Commending the organisers for the programme, Mr Ashitey said: "I find this very commendable considering the fact that, by extension it encapsulates the Government's flagship programme as well as the five key thematic areas espoused by the Head of Service's vision, and that is to say, ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of MMDAs."

He pledged the RCC's support towards the orientation programme for assembly members who had been appointed all over the country.

Mrs Sethina Annang Danquah, the Assistant Registrar of the ILGS and the Coordinator of the programme, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the orientation, which was a nationwide initiative, would afford participants the opportunity to build networks as well as mutually share experiences for personal and professional development.

"Also, it is the goal of ILGS and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to use this training to build the capacities of the Assembly and presiding members to function very effectively in their new offices, through their exposure to the legal frameworks as well as their roles and responsibilities," she said.

Mrs Annang Danquah said the training, which was the last in the series, was happening simultaneously in the Greater Accra and Eastern region.

Giving highlights on the Act 936 of 2016, Mr Jonathan Azaaoo, the Deputy Director of the National Development Planning Commission, said the Act comprised five Acts namely: the District Assembly Common Fund Act 1993 (Act 455); Planning System Act 480; Local Government Services Act; Local Government 462 and Internal Audit Agency Act.

He said three of the Acts were completely replaced with the remaining two being partially replaced.

"The Act is divided into 10 parts; 236 sections and 14 schedules," he said.

On the demarcation of districts, Mr Asazoo noted that there are 16 Districts in Metropolitan Assemblies and 13 Districts in Municipal Assemblies.

The seven-section interactive programme had other facilitators educating participants on District Assembly and Committee System, Model Standing Orders, Local Resources Mobilisation, Community Engagement in Local Governance; as well as Ethics in Local Governance.

Some participants, who spoke to the GNA, said the session was educative and timely, especially when it was strategically positioning MMDAs for the implementation, administration, development planning and management of policies.