Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
Ernest Best Anane
2 November 2009
Kumasi — THE METROPOLITAN Chief Executive (MCE) of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr. Samuel Sarpong, has suggested that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCE's) should look for new approaches to District or Local Economic Development in their areas.
He has called on them to provide leadership, direction, programmes, and policies that would in the end help to alleviate poverty in our communities.
Addressing the 16th National Delegates Conference of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) on the theme: 'District Assemblies Response to the Global Financial Crisis; Consolidating sustainable Development at the Local level in Kumasi,' Mr. Sarpong frowned on the excuses MMDCEs normally give to the people, that projects cannot be implemented because the Central Government had not sent in money, and said this must be discouraged as much as possible.
He urged them to see themselves, and be seen by their people, as leaders who are ready to promote their economic well-being, and not only hide behind constraints or challenges, and leave them in a state of despair.
According to him, each district has a unique local condition that can help its economic development, some of these endeavours, he observed, could be used as the seed from which a local economic strategy can be drawn to improve local economies.
"When each Assembly begins to harness its potential, the totality of it all will help develop the nation at a faster rate than what we anticipate," he noted.
Mr. Sarpong further noted that it was high time district assemblies were encouraged to build on their strengths, improve upon their weaknesses, capitalise on their opportunities, and dismantle threats, stressing that it was only in this way of strategically repositioning ourselves, that our nation would experience accelerated development and progress.
He advised that assemblies implement local policies, and judiciously invest in projects which will yield direct benefits for the people, and contribute to the national well-being of the people as a whole.
Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, who represented the Vice President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, as Guest Speaker, called for support for NALAG to help ensure that it comes out with innovative ideas for the effective promotion of the decentralisation policy.
He further urged NALAG to provide a forum on matters concerning decentralisation, to ensure good governance at the local level.
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