Madina: Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has encouraged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to eschew the tendencies of being armchair politicians and administrators. "We must learn from the President by continuously engaging and interacting with the people of Ghana to understand their needs and to work with them to be able to achieve the development they are looking for," Mr. Ibrahim stated.
According to Ghana News Agency, in an address at the orientation workshop for newly confirmed MMDCEs at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Madina, near Accra, the Minister urged the MMDCEs to deliver on the promises contained in the NDC's 2024 election manifesto for the benefit of Ghanaians. The orientation programme was opened by President John Dramani Mahama.
This year's orientation on the theme 'Strengthening Local Governance Through the Reset Agenda' reflects the core of the ruling National Democratic Congress' (NDC) 2024 Manifesto, Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Accountability and Prosperity. Mr. Ibrahim emphasized the role of MMDCEs as chief representatives of the central government at the local level. He stressed the importance of their orchestration of the vision to ensure effective implementation across the 261 MMDCEs of Ghana.
Mr. Ibrahim noted that the current nomenclature of the MMDCEs' sector Ministry, as set out by the President, depicts a tripod - Local Governance, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs. He explained that MMDCEs represent this tripod, strategically bringing together three independent institutions that have always been part of the local governance system but operated under different state administrative structures.
The Minister highlighted the potential synergy among these institutions, which could contribute positively towards local governance and development. He underscored that this synergy has implications for the MMDCEs' work towards effective local governance, accountable service delivery, and local development.
Mr. Ibrahim stated that the orientation was not just a formality but a part of a series of capacity-building innovations for MMDCEs. The three-day orientation and training aimed to equip the MMDCEs with the relevant philosophies, tools, values, and clarity needed to lead effectively. The programme would cover essential topics such as the development blueprint of the ninth government of the Fourth Republic, the roles and responsibilities of MMDCEs under the Local Governance Act 2016, Act 936, the 24-Hour Economy, and other socio-economic recovery programs.
