Ghana: Ashma Inaugurates Unit Committees

Richard Attenkah

14 June 2011

The Ashaiman Circuit Court Judge, Justice Seyram Azumah Tsatsu, has sworn into office 17 unit committee members of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA).

Describing the unit committees as the main crux on which decentralisation programmes depend on, Mr. Numo Addinortey Addison, the ASHMA Chief Executive, in his inaugural address last Friday, charged them to ensure that they participated in every democratic process and governance, so that they could contribute their quota to the development of their communities and the municipality.

The members, he explained, were to deliberate on issues concerning the development of their various communities, and also draw the attention of the assembly to issues affecting people in their areas, as well as focus on unity and consensus building on developments.

He advised them to eschew politicising deliberations and functions at meetings, and desist from maligning assembly members who might have not supported them.

Assuring the new members on his outfit’s profound cooperation so they could function towards the total development of the municipality, the MCE required from them also determination, hard work and a sense of duty.

The ASHMA, Addinortey added, would institute a programme to encourage healthy competition among unit committees and zonal councils, “and well-behaved and functioning members would be appropriately recognised.”

He announced that the government had introduced the National Apprenticeship Support Programme (NASP), which is one of the projects under the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COVET), intended to link beneficiaries with master craftsmen who would for a period of one year, provide skills training to the apprentices.

Under the scheme, he explained, the government would provide remuneration to the master craftsmen, and also assist the apprentices with tools for the training, and further support them with monthly allowances to cater for their basic expenses.

On her part, Hajia Hajara Ali, Member of the Council of State, urged the unit committees to avoid animosity and work together as a team to see the development of Ashaiman, which is gradually attracting business groups from across the country.

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