Ishmael Ashitey
Ishmael Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, has called on Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Greater Accra Region to create opportunities for credible businesses to thrive in their areas.
Addressing a two-day Peer Learning Review Meeting attended by about 120 participants comprising MMDCEs, Municipal Coordinating Directors, Members of Parliament (MP) and heads of various units in the Greater Accra Region at the Engineers Centre in Accra on Tuesday, Mr. Ashitey disclosed that the operations of businesses in the areas would stimulate economic development of the assemblies and the people.
“I indulge you to work very closely with the business community as your development partners and make every effort to eliminate all forms of bureaucracies that frustrate their intention to work in your MMDAs,” he stated.
The review meeting, according to the Minister, forms part of the mandate of the RCC as enshrined in Article 255 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Acts 936 of 2016 which enjoin all RCCs to, among others, monitor, coordinate and evaluate the performance of MMDAs.
The meeting would help MMDAs to adopt best practices.
The Regional Minister, who called on the participants to collaborate with staff to champion government’s flagship programmes such as the One District, One Factory (IDIF) and ‘Planting for Food and Jobs,’ urged them to partner traditional authorities to create land banks in preparation for potential investors.
“There is always the need to build the capacity of your staff so that services will be result-oriented, the RCC will not tolerate non-performing MMDCEs so I urge you to work hard at solving the challenges confronting you,” he remarked.
“Government has confidence in what you can do as heads of the various MMDAs, and it is for this reason that MMDCEs should show great interest in employing innovative approach to solving the problems confronting you in your assemblies rather than being seen at the RCC as complainants, he stated.
He commended MMDCEs that have evolved best practices to address sanitation challenges.
The regional minister lauded the Ga Central Municipal Assembly for introducing an Electronic Revenue Management and Sanitation Monitoring System to improve accountability.
By Solomon Ofori