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Mr Alfred Asiedu Adjei, President of National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), on Thursday stated that the nominations of people for the positions of the various Assemblies by the President marked a significant milestone in reinforcing local governance structures.
It would also ensure effective service delivery at the grassroots level. Mr. Adjei stated this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in reaction to a letter signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President John Mahama announcing the nominations of about 71 people as Chief Executives for some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country on Wednesday, 26th March 2025.
He commended the President for his dedication to decentralization process and his commitment to appointing capable leaders to steer the affairs of the Assemblies. “The selection process has been meticulous, inclusive and reflective of the President’s vision for local governance,” he noted. Mr Adjei therefore said it was imperative that all stakeholders rally behind the nominees to facilitate the smooth operation of the local governance system.
He noted that the country’s development trajectory could not afford delays in confirming the nominees and therefore appealed to Assembly members in the respective districts to expedite action on the confirmation of the nominees without unnecessary delays. The NALAG President stated that MMDCEs were at the heart of local governance, ensuring that government policies and initiatives were successfully implemented to improve the lives of the citizens.
He said they also executive government policies and development projects in key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and sanitation which directly impacted citizens well-being. “Their supervising of the administration of the MMDAs to promote efficiency, accountability, prudent management of resources, fostering local economic development by creating an enabling environment for business, investment and employment opportunities cannot be downplayed,” he stated.
Mr. Adjei continued that they also coordinated with stakeholders such as traditional authorities, the private sector, and development partners to drive sustainable growth in their respective jurisdictions, ensuring security and maintaining law and order to safeguard lives and property. He said the absence of substantive MMDCEs significantly hampered these essential functions, resulting in stalled development, inefficiencies and weakened governance at the local level.
Mr. Adjei called on Assembly members, who he said were critical players in local governance, to prioritize the interest of their local communities over political differences, personal considerations or procedural bottlenecks and confirm the appointees. “I am calling on relevant stakeholders like traditional authorities, civil society organizations, the media and the general public to lend their voices to this crucial national call devoid of unnecessary impediments.”
Mr. Adjei noted that the Assemblies could not remain in a state of administrative limbo as Ghana’s progress depended on strong and functional local governance structures adding “let us come together to ensure the prompt confirmation of these nominees so that we can focus on the essential task of developing our communities.”
Source: GNA
