Cape Coast, Feb. 01, GNA – Dr Nana Ato Arthur, the Head of Local Government Service, has charged Metropolitan, Municipal District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to regularly engage the citizenry to deepen participatory governance and decision making at the grassroots.
It is expected that MMDCEs will routinely engage the people on various interventions, policies, and development programmes implemented by government to rake in their support.
Dr Arthur gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a sensitization workshop for MMDCEs drawn from the Central, Eastern and Western regions in Cape Coast.
The engagement, the first in a series to be organised, seeks to orientate the MMDCEs on their roles, responsibilities and introduce them to a common platform for experience sharing and energise them to improve performance.
They would also build their capacities in key areas, including; the local government system in Ghana, improving communication skills, leadership and team-building and managing MMDCE–stakeholder relationships.
Others are; corporate financial management, policy direction and guidance from local government experts and peers.
Dr Arthur charged them to epitomise good leadership in their communities, noting that the Assemblies have the mandate to formulate and executive plans, programmes and strategies for the effective mobilisation of resources necessary for overall development of their jurisdictions.
“Avoid getting involved in unnecessary conflicts that rather dent the image of the Assembly and by extension, Government. Rather, work with your staff, deepen transparency, and promote popular participation and accountability at the local level.
“These are the hallmarks for successful leadership and the attainment of results. If you are fruitful in this, then we would be making good progress towards strengthening the structure of our governance system, and bringing democracy and progress to local government,” he added.
Towards effective administration, Dr Arthur stressed the need for MMDCEs to collaborate and contribute to achieving the level of development needed in the communities.
They must build stronger relationships among themselves, improve cordiality with their subordinates to create room for staff to have opportunities to perform to expectation.
Also, they should acquaint themselves with all the relevant laws, and work in close collaboration with traditional authorities, opinion leaders, religious leaders and other key stakeholders in their localities for effective functioning of all sub-structures.
“When organisations, operating in the same industry and sector team up with each other to share knowledge, skills and expertise and also discuss problems and identify potential solutions, it will help accelerate local governance and aid growth and development”, he said.
GNA