The minister swearing in the MDCEs
TWENTY-FOUR new municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) in the Brong-Ahafo Region who were inducted into office last Friday, have been advised to adhere strictly to financial management acts and procurement laws in the award of contracts in their various municipalities and districts.
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, gave the advice after he had inaugurated and administered the oaths of office, secrecy and allegiance to 24 out of 27 municipal and district chief executives who have been confirmed by their assemblies at the Residency.
President Akufo-Addo’s nominees for Sunyani West, Sene East and Berekum Municipal Assemblies, however, failed to get the required two-thirds majority approval by their assembly members and so were absent.
Addressing the new MDCEs after their inauguration, Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh told them that it’s a privilege for them to represent the president in their various municipalities/districts and so they must live above reproach in the discharge of their duties. He reminded them of the onerous responsibilities on their shoulders and urged them to improve the economic status of the people through equitable distribution of resources.
He said if they were to succeed, they should consistently engage all shades of opinion regarding project specification and allocation in their respective communities, stressing that they should adhere strictly to the Procurement Laws and the Financial Management Acts in the award of contracts.
The regional minister entreated them to lend support to the central government regarding its economic policies and strategies to make businesses grow to create jobs for the teaming unemployment youth, especially the programme of ‘Planting for food and jobs’ and the ‘one district, one factory’ policy.
He asked them to apply good managerial skills to manage well the limited resources that might be at their disposal.
Mr Asomah-Cheremeh also advised party supporters, families and community members not to overburden the municipal and the district chief executives with overwhelming demands. He said the inability of the appointees to comply with such ‘outrageous demands’ might create bad blood among them. He congratulated them on their nominations and assumption of office saying, they should not take for granted the high level of confidence reposed in them by the president.
In their acceptance speech, the Asunafo North MCE, Yaw Osei Boahene, who represented them all, thanked the president and the minister for the opportunity given them to serve the people. He promised that they would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them adding that they were ready to work with the regional coordinating council and the assembly members to improve the economic lives of the people.
The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by some members of BA Regional House of Chiefs, heads of security agencies, MPs, family members and friends.
Some of the new MDCEs are John Kofi Donyina, Techiman; Dr. Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson, Sunyani; Edward Owusu, Atebubu Amantin; Dr. Kwesi Afriyie, Wenchi and Collins Offohiam, Tano South.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani
danielyaodayee@yahoo.com