Local Government Minister, Dan Botwe
The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Dan Kwaku Botwe has warned Assembly members to stop blackmailing the President’s nominees.
He threatened that President Akufo-Addo is clothed with powers by the Constitution to dissolve any assembly found to have defaulted its functions and transfer such functions to an individual or a body to run the Assembly.
“So nobody should think that they can blackmail anybody, blackmail the district because they cannot be dissolved. They can be dissolved, and your functions can be taken over by one person or body, and we pray that nobody pushes us to that level,” Dan Botwe said.
The comment by the Minister follows reports of rejections of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives nominees.
Addressing the Okere District Assembly in the Eastern Region on Monday, September 27, 2021, the Minister explained that these powers of the President are explicitly stated in the Local Governance Act, 2016 Section 36&37 of Act 936, which the President can trigger if the need arises.
“This goes to many of the assemblies knowing the functions of the Assembly, yet some wants to use various means to subvert the work of the Assembly and the nomination process. We must understand that by the same law, in Section 36 of Act936, the President has some powers. An investigation by the President that is section 36 Act936 states ‘the President may cause the performance of any function or matter of a District Assembly under this or any other enactment be investigated if the matter is likely to affect the discipline of the District Assembly and shall give direction as appropriate,” Dan Botwe stressed.
He continued that “Section 37 states, [and I want it to be known across the country]. By the law, the President may declare a district assembly to be in default of its functions by Executive Instrument if it is in the interest of the public to do so. And May by the same Executive Instrument or another Executive Instrument, direct the district assembly on how to perform any office function specified in the Executive Instrument or (B) the President may transfer to a person or body the performance of any of the functions of a District Assembly in default specified in the executive instrument. Where the President has transferred the functions of a district Assembly in default to a person or body, the President may by the same or other Executive Instrument dissolve or suspend the district assembly for not more than a year”.
Dan Kwaku Botwe said governance is a serious business; hence Assembly members must understand to commit to the processes.
“Running a country is a serious business, so anytime you elect yourself to be of service in any part to develop the nation, I beg you, it is a very serious issue, and we expect all of us to do that; it is service to the nation. Service to the community, and you are offering leadership.”
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive nominee for Okere Kenneth Daniel Addo secured hundred per cent votes for his approval by the Assembly.