Consider views of grass-roots in dev projects- Ashietey

Published in the Daily Graphic on 16/04/2010, pg 14

Story: Matilda Attram
A FOUR-DAY international seminar on the challenges of globalisation on local governments in Africa has opened in Accra.
It is aimed at initiating effective ways to improve on local governance and decentralisation within African countries.
The seminar which is being organised by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) of the Osun State of Nigeria in collaboration with the Local Government Workers Union (LGWU) of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) is also intended to enhance the skills of participants towards effective performance in their localities.
Addressing the opening session of the seminar, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey noted that decentralisation was an effective means and a primary process of development that provided opportunities for all to contribute to promoting national development.
He said decentralisation through local governance was a key to the elimination poverty on the African continent.
The minister stated that the system of local governance constituted how local people were involved in the decision making processes concerning the development.
He said it also amounted to the way people at the grassroots benefited from development facilities that would enhance their living.
“We can only move forward if we move with the people at the grassroots areas. They must be given the chance to decide on their needs as they also contribute their views for better planning and implementation,” he said.
He observed that Ghana based her development on local governance through democratisation, planning and budgeting, and resource mobilisation to improve on her major agenda of national development.
Nii Ashittey advised heads and members of local government institutions, district and municipalities assemblies to undertake their duties well irrespective of their political affiliations adding that “development should be our great concern.”
In his welcoming note, the General Secretary of LGWU of Ghana (TUC), Mr Joe Boahene stressed the need to improve on the revenue generation ability of local government authorities to facilitate development in local and rural areas.
He also encouraged local government authorities to be efficient to enhance development.
The President of NULGE of the Osun State of Nigeria, Comrade Alhaji Kayode Afolabi, indicated that local governments were the pivot of socio-economic planning and development in their areas of authority and added that “ it should be considered as the most important facilitator of economic and social development at the grassroots.”
He stated that, Nigeria had over the years made efforts to intensify its local governance to facilitate quality service delivery at the local levels of development.
He said the current local government system in Nigeria aimed at restructuring the local government administration in conformity with modern society to enhance the lives of the people.
“The reform focuses on the administration of the public at the grassroots level where development is closer to the majority of the population,” he stated.
Alhaji Afolabi further expressed the need for effective leadership in the management of local government institutions to help resolve the challenges of globalisation.
He also urged leaders of local government institutions to be competent and responsive in the execution of their responsibilities.
The chairperson for the occasion, Mrs Faustina Essandoh-Yeddu, emphasised the importance of the welfare of the people in development and encouraged participants to use their experiences and ideas to better the lives of others.