By Edward Dankwah
Accra, June 21, GNA – Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Vice President, has urged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to serve as the face of central government at the local level, as leaders, managers, implementers, and mobilisers.
She said the role of the MMDCES was vital to translating national vision into local impact.
The Vice President was speaking at the closing ceremony of the orientation and training programme for the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), held at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), at Ogbojo, in Accra.
The training on the theme: “Strengthening Local Governance Through the Reset Agenda,” allowed the MMDCEs to explore key areas, including governance, leadership, power dynamics, and influence.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said the appointment of the MMDCES, pursuant to Section 20(1) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) as amended, was not a political reward but a solemn public trust.
She said their leadership must drive the implementation of the government’s flagship programmes such as the 24-Hour Economy, the Clean Up Ghana Initiative, Adwumawura, the National Apprenticeship Programme, and others outlined in the Reset Agenda.
“These are not just policies, they are the instruments by which we restore jobs, accountability, and prosperity to our people.”
“However, our ambitions will only materialise if you commit to bold, transformative, and ethical leadership,” she added.
The Vice President said the challenges ahead were real and pressing, low IGF mobilisation, weak sub-district structures, recurring financial infractions, poor sanitation, underdeveloped local economies, and inadequate gender-responsive development planning.
She said these were further compounded by the threats of illegal mining and climate change, hence the duty of the MMDCEs to respond with urgency and innovation.
The Vice President said the government had issued clear guidelines for the utilisation of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), and each MMDA was expected to receive approximately GHS 25 million this year, the highest in recent history.
She said, in addition, the government had introduced monthly allowances for Assembly Members, as provided under Section 16 of the Local Governance Act.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang called on the Regional Ministers to apply the provisions of Section 188 of the Local Governance Act to intensify monitoring, coordination, and performance evaluation across their respective regions.
“Our Regional Coordinating Councils must play an active role in providing administrative and technical support to ensure MMDAs operate efficiently and transparently,” she stressed.
She said recognising the evolving nature of their responsibilities, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the ILGS, would roll out targeted training programmes for continuous development.
The Vice President encouraged the MMDCEs to take advantage of these capacity-building initiatives to enhance their expertise.
She reminded the MMDCES to align their development priorities with inclusive frameworks, specifically, to implement programmes that reflected the provisions of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie