President John Mills warns Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs)
President John Mills has given a strong caution to his appointees that non-performing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who fail to meet the government’s performance targets will be sanctioned.
The President’s warning falls inline with his action year declaration as part of efforts to achieve his ‘Better Ghana’ agenda, indicating that government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that performance targets were met.
President Mills further cautioned his appointees at the helm of affairs at the assemblies to comport themselves in the discharge of their duties.
“As representatives of the President and first servants of the state at the district levels, MMDCEs must comport themselves in the administration of the MMDAs to demonstrate to the people that they are indeed available as chief servants of the districts,” the President stated.
This was stated in an address read on behalf of the President by Larry Adjetey, Chairman of the National Identification Authority (NIA), during the inauguration of the Sunyani West District Assembly at Odumase, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The ceremony saw the inauguration and swearing-in of 56 assembly members by the Fiapre Circuit Court Judge, Benjamin Yaw Osei.
The newly-constituted assembly is made up of 38 elected members, 16 government appointees as well as two others, the DCE, Kwadwo Osei-Asibey and the Member of Parliament for the area, Ignatius Baffour Awuah.
The incumbent Presiding Member, Kwame Agyenim-Boateng, an appointee, was re-elected after beating Gyan Martin, assemblyman for Kwatiri, in a two-man race.
President Mills congratulated the newly-inaugurated assembly members on their election and appointment, saying, “Your election and appointment as assembly members is a mark of confidence the people have in you and you are therefore expected to live up to expectation.
“For the duration of your four-year term, you are to serve your people and country at the local government level in a way and manner that will let people appreciate the fact that they are truly participating in the decision-making process and governance of the nation.”
Prof Mills did not leave out assembly members from his caution statement as he advised them not to use their position to seek favours from MMDCEs and management of the assemblies, as that would undermine their authority to demand accountability from management.
“Any member who will use his or position to gain contracts or undue favours from the Assembly will be committing a serious offence of conflict of interest and would be liable to sanction,” the President warned.
The DCE of Sunyani West, Kwadwo Osei-Asibey, charged the new assembly members to be more committed and dedicated and also work hard to surmount the numerous challenges confronting the assembly.
He further told them that their output would be measured by their confidence, effectiveness, efficiency and contribution towards the development of their communities and the district as a whole for the next four years.
The DCE also asked the assembly members to eschew partisan politics and parochial personal interest but rather work towards the development of the newly-created district.
“Your membership of this house is paramount since we have a common goal of ensuring that the good and useful decisions taken at meetings would improve the quality of the lives of our people,” he stressed.
Present at the ceremony were the MP for the area, Baffour Awuah, heads of departments, chiefs from various communities in the district and members of the public.
Source Daily Guide
Category: Politics
