President Akufo-Addo has urged the newly confirmed MMDCEs to help transform the local economy and ensure the creation of jobs for persons in the country.
According to him, the position of the MMDCEs in the administrative structure of the country has attracted considerable attention and scrutiny. Describing the attention as one meriting a “good reason”, he revealed that the MMDCEs are the “very pillar of local assembly”.
Speaking at the induction ceremony for the newly confirmed MMDCEs today, October 26, 2021, President Akufo-Addo explained that they are in charge of the day-to-day performance of the functions of the assembly and are the “chief representative” of the President in the locality.
“They have the opportunity to transform the local economy and preside over the creation of jobs for our people. The local area is the target for all the programs we set forth in 2017; programs we continue to implement for the growth and transformation of the Ghanaian economy. Planting for Food and Jobs, $1 million One Constituency, One District One Factory, One Village One Dam and Agenda 111 policy initiatives, like all the other innovative introductions to the economy, are all very much local initiatives”.
President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo underscored the need for the executives to perform incredibly in their new designation. This, he explained, has become imperative as the best efforts of the President and ministers will be “considerably undermined” if MMDCEs do not perform creditably.
“The people of Ghana will see and feel and know that what they voted for has truly arrived if and when their chief executives manage to deliver on the promises of government”.
President Akufo-Addo
Decentralization of local government
The theme for this year’s induction ceremony: ‘Effective leadership for local economic transformation and improved service delivery in Ghana: The role of MMDCEs’, according to the President, ties in perfectly with the “vision to deepen” local governance and decentralization.
He disclosed that the constitution spells out clearly the process through which the country should decentralize governance at the local level. President Akufo-Addo however, noted that after almost 29 years, this remains very much a work in progress.
“The estate of the average citizen is still to look toward Accra for things that fall within the remit of the local authority. I’m expecting that you will be part of the team that finally brings decentralization to fruition. This should mean that, the district assemblies build their capacities and are able to handle the responsibilities that have been devolved on them by law”.
President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo cautioned the MMDCEs that all government initiatives at the local level come within their purview, whether they initiated them or not.
According to him, the argument that they are not aware or responsible for government initiatives in their localities will not “wash” with him. The President encouraged them to familiarize themselves with everything, “whether of your making or not”.
On his part, Minister for Local Government, Dan Botwe, charged the newly inducted MMDCEs to take advantage of their new positions to ensure development in their districts. He urged them to prioritise development issues to improve their constituents’ lives.
“I wish to challenge all MMDCE’s to ensure that your new role triggers a better impact in the lives of our people, and this you can achieve by cooperating with all stakeholders in the discharge of the mandate of your office”.
Mr Dan Botwe
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