Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, has tasked the newly sworn-in Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) to be proactive in implementing government’s policies and programmes in their local assemblies to impact the lives of people.
Dr. Letsa, while delivering a speech during the swearing-in ceremony of MDCEs held at the Residency Conference Hall, stated that, discipline, hard work and dedication are needed to lead government’s development agenda.
This, he disclosed, would help to achieve “effectiveness, efficiency and transparency required of all of us by the Local Government Service’s Service Delivery Standards”.
“You must offer critical leadership by considering matters of common interest to the generality of the good people of your District.
“Encourage active participation of the people in the programmes and activities meant for the enhancement of the social and economic development of the district.”
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa
By so doing, the Regional Minister stated that, it would help ensure that our government fulfils satisfactorily, its social contract with the good people of Ghana.
This, Dr. Lesta revealed, will promote active participation, create jobs, deliver quality health care services and education, promote agriculture, and promote industrialisation of the districts, amongst others.
The Regional Minister asked the MDCEs to strictly adhere to the various ACTs of Parliament and Legislative Instructions relevant to the Local Governance System.
This include the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (ACT 921) which he stated, must be studied carefully to avoid being cited for violation.
MDCEs to make informed decisions
Dr Letsa advised the MDCEs to always try to make informed decisions, as bad decision hastily taken today, although for a good course, may come to “haunt you [MDCEs] in a few months or years”.
“As much as we would wish to take prompt decisions that would facilitate your [MDCEs] work and the development of the various Districts, we must nonetheless be mindful that they must conform to the established laws and regulations because if they are violated, they will attract the appropriate sanctions.”
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa
On his part, Mr Prosper Afenyo, the acting Volta Regional Coordinating Director cautioned the MDCEs against sleeping on the job, saying, all eyes are on Volta, the 2020 Best Performing Region.
Mr. Afenyo stated that it is important for the MDCEs to deploy the huge resource base including human, material, and financial required getting the job done. He also insisted that there must be “no failure”.
Mr. Geoffrey Kodzo Badasu, Kpando MCE who spoke on behalf of the MDCEs, thanked the President for the opportunity to serve their districts. This, he said “it’s a call to duty”.
Mr. Kodzo promised that the MDCEs will deliver on their core mandate saying, they would call on stakeholders including the Regional Minister for support when necessary, so they could work together “for the progress and development of the various Districts in the Volta Region”.
In the meantime, Dr. Lesta stated that government of Ghana has introduced flagship programmes and policies including One District, One Factory, and Planting for Food and Jobs.
This he admonished, that the MDCEs being chief representatives of the Central Government in the Districts, should be conversant with those policies to lead the growth agenda of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in their respective districts.
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