President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the newly elected Assembly Members and government appointees to build good working relationships with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country.
He said the officials must also establish strong partnerships and collaborate with the local structures particularly, the urban, town, zonal and area council, the unit committees and traditional authorities as well as other identifiable groups to facilitate the work of the District Assembly.
Honourable Boye Laryea
According to the President, It is through these partnerships and collaborations that the ideals of local governance are optimized for the benefit of the people.
President Akufo-Addo in a speech read on his behalf by the Chief Director at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development, Amin Abdul-Rahaman, at the inauguration of Assembly Members of the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly in Accra on Monday indicated that “it is an honour and privilege to be elected or appointed to serve the residents of your localities”.
“I therefore entreat you to build good working relationships with your colleague Assembly Members, the Hon. District Chief Executive, Member (s) of Parliament, Staff of the District Assembly, and the people you represent” he noted.
Mr. Abdul-Rahaman reminded the officials that “your people require of you; selflessness, devotion to duty, a very accountable stewardship and above all, your ability to articulate the needs of the people to guide the district development agenda and ultimately, improve the quality of their livelihoods and wellbeing.”
He also stressed the need for the officials to play a key role in checking unplanned settlements in their localities.
Mr. Abdul-Rahaman observed with concern the developing trend, which he believes poses a threat to national development.
He urged MMDAs to enforce local laws to deal with the menace.
“…As you begin work, it is my ardent hope that you will help enforce the planning standards and compliance of land use and special planning as well as other regulations regarding human settlements and special planning,” he stated.
Honourable Boye Laryea, the Municipal Chief Executive of Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly in an address indicated that the inauguration of the Assembly is yet another gesture to further consolidate and deepen the democracy of Ghana.
Mr. Francis Mensah , the Municipal Coordinating Director
While congratulating the Assembly Members in the previous Assembly for their re-election emphasized that their election is a “manifestation of the confidence reposed in you by the electorates in your various Electoral Areas in the Municipality. It is a vote to further advance the course of development in your various communities and to be the mouthpiece of progress and unity and more especially spearhead the general good of the Electoral Areas.”
The Okaikwei North MCE urged the Assembly members and the government appointees on the need to work in unity and focus on the growth and development agenda of their communities.
The Assembly members and government appointees
Honorable Laryea added: “Your parochial interests must give way to the larger good of your Electoral Areas and be reminded that the mandate given to you by the electorates is an opportunity to serve”.
The Achimota District Court Judge, His Worship Prince Osei Owusu administered appointees the Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Secrecy and the Oath of Office to the Assembly Members and the government appointees.
Mr. Abdul-Rahaman
Meanwhile, the Assembly was unable to elect a presiding member to lead its deliberations as none of the two contenders in the race for the Presiding membership was able to secure the required two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast to emerge winner.
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
