During Ghana’s 68th independence celebration, NALAG President Alfred Asiedu Adjei emphasized the need for urgent reforms to strengthen local governance. He urged MMDAs to reassess strategies for efficient service delivery, called for Assembly Members to prioritize community service over politics, and urged national leadership to enhance financial and administrative autonomy for local authorities.
As Ghana turns 68, Alfred Asiedu Adjei, President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), advocates for urgent reforms to bolster local governance. He emphasizes the need for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to reassess their strategies to ensure effective service delivery and meaningful decentralization.
Adjei highlighted the pivotal role of MMDAs in Ghana’s governance framework while addressing ongoing challenges that affect their functionality. He posed essential questions regarding whether local authorities have sufficient power, whether MMDAs are responsive to community needs, and how systemic inefficiencies hinder their progress, asserting that these inquiries should influence strategies for improvement.
Furthermore, Assembly Members are encouraged to prioritize community service over political agendas. Adjei stresses that local assemblies must operate as development-focused institutions rather than political party affiliates, urging members to uphold their integrity by fostering inclusive policies and maintaining accountability to the electorate.
Adjei also called on national leadership to enact decisive reforms for local governance. He pointed out the necessity of financial and administrative independence for MMDAs, prompt disbursement of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), and establishing clear accountability structures for resource management, insisting that decentralized governance needs to be a tangible development tool rather than mere theoretical policy.
As Ghana celebrates its independence anniversary, Adjei sees this moment as an opportunity for stakeholders to commit to enhancing governance. He insists that MMDAs must function effectively, communities should prosper, and governance should be attuned to the aspirations of citizens, concluding that immediate action is essential for a better future for Ghana.
In summary, the call for empowered local governance in Ghana highlights the need for meaningful reforms in MMDAs to tackle their ongoing challenges. By prioritizing community service over political interests, Assembly Members can enhance local governance. Additionally, national leadership must provide MMDAs with the necessary resources and autonomy to deliver effectively. This call to action reinforces that the time for transformation in Ghana’s governance is now, coinciding with the nation’s independence anniversary.
Original Source: www.gbcghanaonline.com
