President Nana Akufo-Addo has told newly-confirmed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to adopt strategies that will transform their local economies.
Delivering a keynote address at an orientation ceremony for newly confirmed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, at the Accra International Conference Centre on Tuesday, the President urged them to work towards uplifting the image of his government.
“Avoid getting involved in unnecessary conflicts that rather dent the image of the Assembly and, by extension, Government.
“Rather, work with your staff, deepen transparency, and promote popular participation and accountability at the local level. These are the hallmarks for successful leadership and the attainment of results,” the President said.
He added: “If you are fruitful in this, then we would be making good progress towards strengthening the structure of our governance system and bringing democracy and progress to local government.”
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According to President Akufo-Addo, the local area is the target for all the programmes the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) rolled out in 2017 for national economic transformation.
“‘Planting for Food and Jobs, ‘One Million Dollar One Constituency”, “One District One Factory”, and “One Village One Dam” and “Agenda 111” policy initiatives, like all the other innovative introductions to the economy, are all very much local initiatives…The challenge is, thus, for all areas to take advantage of these programmes to develop your localities,” he said on Tuesday, October 26, 2021.
While admonishing the MMDCEs to be minded of the fact that all Government initiatives at the local level come within their purview, whether initiated by them or not, he stressed that “the argument that you are not aware of, or are not responsible for government initiatives in your localities, will not wash with me.”
On the matter of the election of MMDCEs, the President noted that there is nothing to fear in the direct election of Chief Executives, as it will, on the contrary, should lead to a deepening of democracy and better accountability.
“My Government and I will continue to work for a broad, national consensus on this issue, and should such a consensus be attained for the repeal of article 55(3) of the Constitution, and an agreement reached for political parties to participate in and sponsor candidates for election to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, at any point during my tenure of office as President of the Republic, the matter will be brought again back to the front burner of our public discourse for the necessary action,” President Akufo-Addo stated.