Local Government and Rural Development Minister Hajia Alima Mahama has appealed to assembly members in the country to try as much as possible to approve the president’s nominees for metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs).
There have been some agitations concerning some nominees of the President for MMDCE positions by some party faithful, chiefs and assembly members.
But the Minister indicated that more than 100 of them may have qualified for the post in each district, but noted that not all of them will be given the post in the end.
She said this in an exclusive interview with Class FM on the occasion of a review conference for Chief Directors and heads of local government services in Kumasi.
According to her, the president consulted and critically scrutinised the various aspirants for MMDCE before the nominations were announced, and there is the need for the assembly members to approve them.
She, therefore, called on party faithful, chiefs and assembly members to exercise patience since the MMDCE roles are not the only positions available.
She said delays in approving the nominees will definitely affect development negatively in the various assemblies.
According to her, government has many policies to implement in the various districts, and if approval of nominees delay, it will be difficult for the government to effectively carry out its policies in the absence of the MMDCEs.
The Minister also called on Chief Directors and District Coordinating Directors to draw on their experience and support Regional Ministers and MMDCEs, once they are confirmed, to enable them perform in office. Hajia Mahama also called on them to provide transparent, accountable, insightful and exemplary leadership as they guide them in the cause of their duties.
The head of the Local Government Service, Dr Nana Ato Arthur, also urged the MMDAs to use ICT and digital mapping systems to improve their revenue mobilisation.
According to him, most assemblies rely overly on central government for funds but noted that if the assemblies could improve their revenue collection efforts through ICT and digital mapping systems, it would help to improve their revenue source identification and collection, thereby reducing overreliance on a particular income stream. He indicated that this was his vision to improve revenue mobilisation in the MMDAs.
On the issue of government’s policy to have MMDCEs elected, he said key staff of the MMDAs would be oriented and positioned to provide the necessary support for the policy to take off.
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