Professional and logistical concerns hinder structures utilization at local governance level – Dr Arthur

By
Amadu Kamil Sanah, GNA

Ho, Sept. 27, GNA – Dr
Nana Ato Arthur, Head of the Local Government Service, has said under
utilization of structures at the local governance level is due to the lack of
capacity, professionalism and adequate logistics to support activities such
assemblies.

This, he said, has
informed his vision of Capacity Building, Local Economic Development,
Sanitation and Waste Management, Internally Generated and Work Place
Environment to transform staff of assemblies to address about four of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The SDGs are 1, 2, 6
and 11 which are to end poverty in all its forms- Zero Hunger, Clean water and
sanitation and Sustainable Cities and Communities respectively”.

Dr Ato Arthur said
this to the Ghana News Agency during the fourth bi-annual professional
conference organised by the Office of the Local Government Service (LGS) at Ho.

The three-day
conference is being held under the theme: “Transforming Ghana through effective
leadership, coordination and implementation of government’s policies at the
decentralised level in the 30 years of Ghana’s Decentralization”.

The event brought
together over 400 professional class within the Regional Coordinating Councils
(RCCs) and MMDAs across the country.

The conference is an
initiative to review past performance, share best practices and strategies in
the development of the assemblies.

It is also on sharing
of best practices on innovations from selected MMDAs in four areas of Local
Economic Development, Sanitation and Waste Management, Internally Generated and
Workplace Environment.

He said these four key
focus areas are the core areas of the LGS signed 2018 Performance Contract with
the MMDAs.

Dr Ato Arthur said the
LGS is strong and ready to support all programs towards the development of
communities and the country as a whole.

He said Ghana adopted
democratic decentralization as a policy reform to highlight the need to
strengthen and expand democracy at the local level adding that Government was
on course to achieve a fully decentralized governance system.

Dr Ato Arthur said
MMDAs are the planning authorities at the local level and mandated to translate
national policies into action plans and implement same to enhance the general
well-being of the people.

He said the LGS has
developed a system (Inter-Service, Sectoral Collaboration and Cooperation
System) that ensures inter institutional collaboration and coordination of
Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Public Service Institutions, State Owned
Enterprises and other private institutions to work together to generate
synergies towards the achievement of Government objectives in a mutual manner
at all levels.

The LGS Head
reiterates the support of staff under the service to propagate Government’s
Agenda and to carry out all programs to a successful end.

The LGS was
established by its Act of 2003 (Act 656) which was repealed to the Local
Governance Act of 2016 (Act 936) and in 2005 the Civil Service gave birth to
the Local Government Service to accelerate the decentralization agenda as
stipulated in the 1992 Constitution.

It has the
responsibility of providing the strategic direction for local government
administration and management in Ghana; and collaborates with other national
institutions to facilitate ongoing local government reforms to ensure that
local government administration in the country measures up to international
best practices.

The LGS is also
responsible for the training and career development of staff of local
government institutions to ensure the delivery of value for money and opening
local economies for development.

GNA

قالب وردپرس