GOVT WILL ENSURE EFFICIENCY OF MMDAs — CHIREH (PAGE 14)

The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, has assured that the government will continue to play its role to ensure efficient operation of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), particularly in the area of waste management.
That, he said, would make it possible for the communities to be clean at all times.
He gave the assurance when he addressed an emergency delegates’ conference of the National Association of Local Authorities in Ghana (NALAG) in Koforidua last Thursday.
The conference, which was attended by delegates from the MMDAs, was to discuss pertinent issues and elect national executives.
According to Mr Yieleh Chireh, although the main challenge confronting both the local and central governments was solid waste management, the inability of the central government and local authorities to institute proper waste management systems over the years had resulted in deteriorating sanitary conditions in towns and cities.
The minister, who expressed hope that a revised environmental health sanitation policy that was awaiting parliamentary approval would help address the issue, called on the assemblies to do their best to ensure a clean environment.
He also stated that the government’s intention of holding a stakeholders’ forum on decentralisation would help address all pertinent issues militating against the local government system.
Mr Yieleh Chireh expressed hope that the delegates would elect capable and dedicated officers to steer the affairs of NALAG.
The Eastern Regional Minister,Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives should uphold the principle of accountability and transparency, adding that any of them who would deviate from such principles and conduct themselves in such a manner that would tarnish the reputation of the government would be “shown the exit card”.
“The level of corruption in the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies is highly unacceptable because funds meant for development with the intention of alleviating poverty are disbursed recklessly.It is unfortunate that most of our leaders do not consider the plight of the people they represent and such leaders will be severely dealt with,” he stated.
With regard to the empowerment of women, Mr Ofosu Ampofo called on the assembly members to throw their weight behind female members nominated for appointment as metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives.
In his address, the outgoing President of NALAG, Mr Mawutor Goh, said his outfit last year achieved some successes in advocacy, and that it had managed to fight for an increase in the District Assembly Common Fund from five to seven-and-half per cent as well as the passage of the Local Government Service Act 656.
Mr Mawutor Goh, who dwelt on various aspects of local government, thanked the delegates for their co-operation and support, and appealed to the members to accord the same support to his successor.
Present at the gathering were the New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Alex Kwaku Asamoah, a former Minister of State, Mr D.S. Boateng, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal, and the Deputy Registrar General, Mr Ohene Obeng.