By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, October 21, GNA – The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has distributed 128 brand-new Haval H9 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to strengthen decentralisation and improve service delivery.
Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Sector Minister, said the vehicles, together with pickup trucks to be distributed, were intended to enhance the mobility of local government authorities and enable them to supervise development projects, monitor activities and deliver essential services.
He said the provision of the vehicles demonstrated President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to strengthening decentralisation by equipping assemblies with the logistics needed to perform their functions effectively.
Mr Ayariga said many MMDCEs had struggled for the past one and a half years without official vehicles, with some relying on their personal vehicles to carry out their duties.
He noted that assemblies were now managing unprecedented levels of resources and that the government was committed to empowering them to make decisions on development projects and the use of their allocations.
The Minister urged the MMDCEs to use the vehicles strictly for official duties, stressing that their conduct would influence public perception of the government and its management of public resources.
He cautioned them against using the vehicles for personal activities and urged them to maintain them properly, warning that no replacement vehicles would be provided if they failed to take care of them.
Mr Ayariga explained that the 128 vehicles constituted the first batch, adding that the remaining vehicles, including pickups, were in the country, with some still at the port awaiting clearance.
“The outstanding vehicles are expected to be released within two weeks for distribution to the remaining MMDCEs in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions, as well as some districts in the Central Region,” he added.
He said the initial distribution prioritised the farthest and rural regions, where transportation challenges, poor road networks and limited public transport made it difficult for local authorities to carry out their responsibilities.
The Minister also announced that assembly members would soon receive their motorcycles, following discussions with President Mahama and the Minister of Finance to facilitate their provision.
On illegal small-scale mining, Mr Ayariga announced a conference scheduled for November 2 at the Lancaster Hotel in Kumasi, involving the Ministries of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Lands and Natural Resources; and Environment, Science and Technology.
He said the meeting would establish a collaborative approach to tackling illegal mining and its devastating effects on communities.
Although mining regulation and environmental protection fell under other sector ministries, he said local authorities had a crucial role to play because the activities occurred within their jurisdictions.
“Unless you and I sit up and try to manage the situation, it will be difficult for the local government, the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, or even the military, to be able to deal with this,” he stressed.
Mr Ayariga expressed confidence that, under President Mahama’s leadership, the collaborative efforts of the three ministries and local authorities would help bring an end to the menace of illegal small-scale mining.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade