DCE, MPS URGED TO ESCHEW ANIMOSITY (PAGE 14)

THE Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, has called on the metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) in the region to eschew animosity between them and their Members of Parliament (MPs), irrespective of their political leanings.
He said such behaviour would stifle the development of the region.
The regional minister made the call when he swore in the 17 MMDCEs of the region at a short ceremony in Sekondi at the weekend.
They took the official oath, the oath of secrecy and the oath of allegiance after which they were presented with their instruments of appointment.
Mr Aidoo warned that any MMDCE found creating unnecessary rivalry between themselves and the Member of Parliament would be doing so at his/her own peril.
He said the decentralisation process was “to bring, governance to the door-steps of the people and to empower them to determine their own development agenda that best captures their needs, dreams and aspirations.
Your presence at the district level is to ensure that all these ideals are translated into programmes and projects on the ground” he said.
To do this more effectively, he said, they must ensure that the lower structures of the assemblies functioned and that the ability of the sub-structures to perform the roles assigned to them effectively would go a long way to supplement the work of the assemblies.
Mr Aidoo advised them to work closely with government agencies, public institutions and traditional rulers as well as civil society organisations and develop goodwill towards all residents to enable them to be successful.
He noted that meaningful development could take place only when there were adequate resources.
“While ensuring the judicious use of the finances of your assemblies, it is important that you explore all avenues to maximise revenue.
One very important way of raising revenue and meeting your revenue targets is to make use of the sub-committees of your assemblies. The involvement of your presiding members is very important in this respect,” he said.
The regional minister further said civil society should also play an advocacy role for the assemblies so that citizens would willingly fulfil their tax obligations.
“A lot of responsibility is placed on your shoulders as chief executives. It is your responsibility to champion the development of your districts and facilitate the provision of the felt needs of the residents and assist them to find solutions to some of their socio-economic problems,” he stressed.
Mr Aidoo said the Local Government Act spelt out the functions of the assemblies and the chief executives, and that it was important to be conversant with the functions to be able to act appropriately.
“Your assemblies shall exercise political and administrative authority and provide guidance, give direction, supervise, co-ordinate and integrate the activities of the other administrative authorities in the district to ensure overall development,” he told the MMDCEs.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mrs Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, noted that a lot was required from the MMDCEs and urged them to go and work hard towards the transformation of their respective areas.
The Shama District Chief Executive, Ms Emelia Arthur, on behalf of her colleagues said their appointments were a call to service and that they would deliver as expected of them.