By Ayisah Foster
The deputy Minister for Locale Government and Rural Development,Hon.O.B Amoah together with Madam Patricia Appiagyei,Member of Parliament for Asokwa Constituency of the Ashanti region,Mr Edmund Kyei,First Vice Chairman of Asokwa Constituency represented the President of the Republic to officially inaugurate the Asokwa Municipal Assembly.
The Asokwa Municipal Assembly was curved from the Kumasi Metropolitan assembly in 15th March,2018.It forms part of the newly 38 districts created nationwide in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Local Governance Act, 2016, Act 936. under the NPP led Nana Akuffo Addo’s government.
In a speech delivered on behalf of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo at the inaugural ceremony Hon.O.B Amoah sated these in an open release;
Our Constitution provides that Ghana shall have a system of local government and administration which shall, as far as practicable, be decentralized. The highest political authority at the local level is the District Assembly, which includes a Metropolitan and Municipal
Assembly, with deliberative, legislative and executive powers.
I am certain that you have gathered for this ceremony very satisfied that you now have your own district Assembly and determined to
2.assist in ensuring the successful execution of its functions for the overall development of your area.
As provided in our constitution, the functions of the Assemblies include the formulation and execution of plans, programmes and strategies for the effective mobilization of the resources necessary for the overall development of the district.
As has been stated on numerous occasions, my government is offering a new approach to doing things to drive the agenda for change, growth, job creation and prosperity for all. The agenda will certainly be fulfilled if the government brings governance to the doorsteps of the people. This will ensure effective and efficient decentralization through grassroots participation, better planning and improved service delivery in local communities.
These Assemblies are considered to be essential for ensuring balanced and equitable development at the local level. The Assemblies are the focal areas for the government’s rural and urban development agenda. These include the provision of better opportunities for poverty reduction and enhancement of quality life, using agricultural regeneration and industrialization as well as urban renewal programmes with emphasis on development and maintenance of urban infrastructure.
3.The Assemblies are an integral part of my vision for economic and social transformation as provided in the Coordinated Programme of Economic and social Development Policies 2017-2024 which I have presented to the Parliament of Ghana.
The main goals to be pursued include:
Creating opportunities for all Ghanaians
Safeguarding the natural environment and ensuring a resilient
built environment
Maintaining a stable, united and safe country; and
Building a prosperous country.
The flagship projects and initiatives in the short-to- medium term will
be successful if the Assemblies play their respective roles in our
agenda to:
Revitalize the economy
Revamp economic and social infrastructure
Transform Agriculture and Industry
Provide social development
Reform the delivery of institutions of governance
Leveraging on Science, Technology and Innovation for
Development.
It is obvious that an enormous responsibility is placed on the
shoulders of the Assemblies regarding deeper political and
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administrative decentralization, decentralized planning, fiscal
decentralization and improving popular participation.
While the government is spearheading the efforts at accelerating and
sustaining decentralization, I entreat all of you as stakeholders to be
focused, committed and pursue the agenda of development with one
purpose.
I am determined to fully meet the constitutional imperative to ensure
the accountability of local government authorities. People in particular
local government areas shall, as far as practicable be afforded the
opportunity to participate effectively in their governance. I am
expecting all of us to fully embrace this decisive bold step to make our
MMDCEs directly elected by the people for greater efficiency,
accountability, democracy and development.
We should endeavour to make the decentralization agenda work by
minimizing agitations on siting of district capitals, election of presiding
members, appointment of government nominees, chief executives and
provision of critical facilities in parts of the communities.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my greatest pleasure
to declare Juaben Municipal Assembly duly inaugurated.
I wish you well. Your success will make Ghana great and strong and
create: “An optimistic, self-confident and prosperous nation, through
the creative exploitation of our human and natural resources, and
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operating within the democratic, open and fair society in which mutual
trust and economic opportunities exist for all”.
Thank you and God bless us all and our homeland Ghana.
