By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Tamale, July 06, GNA ā Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister has taken his resolve to ensure punctuality to events a notch higher by locking out some public officials to a meeting organised by the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC).
The public officials including some Municipal and District Chief Executives and their Coordinating Directors and Presiding Members, and Heads of various Departments and Agencies, were invited to the expanded NRCC meeting scheduled for 0900 hours, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the NRCC office, in Tamale.
However, as at 1000 hours am, most of them were not present when some of the invited guests including chiefs of Zangbalun in the Kumbungu District and Bakpaba in the Nanumba North Municipality were already seated.
Mr John, not pleased about the situation, ordered security personnel at the entrance to the residency, the venue for the meeting, to close the gate and not allow anyone to enter.
At 1030 hour, the Minister asked security personnel to open the gate for the latecomers to enter where some Municipal and District Chief Executives and their Coordinating Directors and Presiding Members, and Heads of Departments and Agencies, came in to join the meeting.
The meeting was largely designed to give opportunities to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and key institutions with major development concerns and responsibility in the region to inform the house (NRCC) about progress made so far.
During the meeting, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) gave updates on the 24-hour Economy Market projects within their jurisdictions, Regional Director of Department of Urban Roads gave update on the Big Push Roads, Regional Security Coordinator gave update on issues of security while the Northern Area Manager of Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited updated the house on ongoing installation of new transformers.
Mr John, in his closing remarks, cautioned MMDCEs and other public officials against lateness to official engagements, saying it was unacceptable and undermined discipline and effective public service delivery.
He said punctuality must become a hallmark of public administration, emphasizing that public officials must lead by example in respecting time and demonstrating professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
He said: āWhen a meeting is scheduled for 9am, everyone is expected to be present before the appointed time. If you know the condition of the road in your area and the time it takes to travel, then, you should make the necessary arrangements to ensure you are present on time.ā
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Benjamin Mensah
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