A three-day validation workshop for stakeholders to make inputs, comments and suggestions on best practices, statutory requirements, and coordination for the effective implementation of a National Urban Policy (NUP) and an Implementation Plan has been held in Ho in the Volta Region.

The documents reviewed were the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy, the Revised National Urban Policy((2023-2032)  and an Implementation Plan Document.

The revised NU P(2013-2032) follows the successful implementation of the NUP (2012) looking back to the implementation of the latter and seeks to build on its successes and further fill the gaps identified.

The revised NUP (2013-2032) replaces the NUP (2012) after its validation, its approval and adoption will push for the agenda toward inclusive, resilient and safe and sustainable urban settlements to achieve national and global goals.

It also anticipates new opportunities and proposes strategies to address emerging challenges to Ghana's urbanisation future with an outlook based on national aspirations as documented in the 1992 Constitution, other related national policy documents and projections as well as international commitments.

The revised NUP which was formulated in accordance with the National Development Planning Commission's (NDPC) guidelines for formulating public policy will provide direction for all relevant stakeholders and institutions that play roles in the transformation of urban settlements and their functional areas in Ghana

Speaking at the workshop, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Marian W. A. Kpakpah stressed the need for greater collaboration, cooperation, coordinated action and flexibility of all stakeholders to ensure the success of the policy when approved and implemented.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from Academia, Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), Development Partners and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Source:                PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT (MLGDRD)

Issues on coordination, monitoring, and supervision have been identified as challenges that hinder the smooth operations of service delivery at the local government level, thus the need for proper compliance and enforcement of the Local Government ACT 2016 (Act 936) by the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs).

This was in a presentation by the Head of Service at the Office of the Civil Service, Nana Agyekum Dwamena during a two-day joint meeting of the Councils of Local Government Service (LGS) and the Institute of Local Government Studies on human resource management and capacity-building responsibilities for effective local governance in Accra.

The Head of Service said the Local Government Act 2016 clearly defines the coordination role of the RCCs which is critical to decentralisation therefore services rendered by these technocrats at all levels should make meaning to the ordinary Ghanaian.

According to him, the ordinary Ghanaian blames the government in power when they do not feel the work of the public service staff, he, therefore charged them to support the government to realise development at the district level.

He acknowledged the challenges the RCCs face in their coordinating, monitoring, and supervisory role as well as compliance and enforcement, especially when it comes to independent bodies working within their regions. He encouraged them to get everyone in service delivery on board to fulfill the government’s agenda.

He called on the government to adequately structure and fund the RCCs to deliver on their mandates, saying that, there should be in place systems and processes for enforcement facilitation.

Nana Dwamena noted that continuous interference under the guise of monitoring and evaluation by the government could also hinder service delivery.

He identified some emerging issues as the lack of understanding of the decentralisation agenda and called for frequent engagements and interaction among assembly staff at the regional and district levels to enable them demand accountability from assembly staff.

The Head of Service advised the RCCs to conduct research into the effectiveness of coordination and come out with a manual to aid district assembly staff.

HONOURABLE MINISTER

The Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Hon. Daniel Botwe on his part noted that coordination, monitoring and supervision have been spelt out in Act 936 as the first function of the RCCs.

He urged the RCCs to play their monitoring role to ensure district assemblies utilise their resources and funds to reduce audit infractions.

LGS COUNCIL CHAIR

The Chairman for the Local Government Council, Dr. David W. Essaw the two Councils have taken note of some major policies that were brought to the fore during the two-day deliberations and pledged to work with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation to enforce the policies.

He noted that the challenges in the health and education sectors when it comes to decentralisation is that, the two institutions are still not decentralised making it difficult for the RCCs to monitor and supervise their activities at the regional level.

He called for the need for some framework to work with, thus, the Councils would work towards the development of guidelines on coordination that would impact and improve upon the living conditions of the people.

Source:              PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT (MLGDRD)

The Councils of the Local Government Service (LGS) and the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) have met to assess the state of the human resource management functions and capacity-building arrangements in the local government sector and to chart a way forward to ensure coherence, consistency and in a sustained manner effective local government administration in the country.

This is because in 2003, both the ILGS and the LGS were established to address the capacity deficiencies of the human resource of the Local Government system.

The Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936) among others, provides technical assistance and direction to District Assemblies to enable them to effectively perform their functions and discharge their duties, conduct organisational and job analysis for the District Assemblies.

The Institute of the Local Government Service Act  2003 (Act 647) on the other hand provides the framework and the guidelines in the organisation for the training of both staff and members of LGS to enhance their managerial, administrative, financial, and operational efficiency.

The relevant laws for both the ILGS and the LGS make the sector Minister responsible for providing policy direction and coherence in the performance of the mandate of the respective Councils.

Specifically, section 232 (2) of the Local Governance Act 936 provides that the  Local Government Minister may on the advice of the Local Government Service Council given in consultation with the Public Service Commission make Regulations of institutional cooperation between the Local Government Service and other branches of the public service and a matter that falls within the scope of the functions of the Local Government Service.

HONOURABLE DANIEL BOTWE

Opening a two-day joint Councils meeting of the Local Government Service (LGS)  and the Institute of Local Government Studies on human resource management and capacity-building responsibilities for effective local governance in Accra, the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Hon. Daniel Botwe emphasized that Chapter six of the 1992 Constitution interprets an even and balanced development of all regions, thus the development of Act 936 mandating the District Assemblies to achieve this.

He opined that there must be results from local government staff to meet the aspiration of the people, saying the legal instrument of the Local Government act provides a better collaboration between the ILGS and the LGS.

He called for periodic training to build the capacity of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) staff to enable them to deliver on their mandate.

Hon. Botwe cited Section 48 of the Local Government Act 936 which called for the protection of marginalised groups under social protection. He, therefore, urged District Assembly staff to be sensitive to vulnerable groups in their jurisdiction and ensure the Departments of Social Development works to make life easy for them.

He noted that the Local Government Act talks about the bottom-up approach of where policies and activities of the District Assemblies should be reflected on the people at the local level. He called for the Ministry’s involvement in the activities of both Councils through engagement for efficient delivery. He also called for collaboration between the Service and the Ministry.

Hon. Botwe touched on the monitoring and evaluation roles of the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) at the regional level, urging the RCCs to ensure the right use of resources, especially project funds. He noted that this function if done well would reduce audit infractions.

He called for collaboration among ILGS, LGS, and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) to address and minimise the numerous challenges facing communities at the local level.

The sector Minister directed all MMDAs to have a data room for spatial planning per the LUSPA Act 2016 (Act 925) for effective and efficient delivery of land use and spatial planning and the discussion he said should start between the two Councils.

LGS COUNCIL CHAIR

The Chairman of the Local Government Council, Dr. David W. Essaw in a remark said the Council is championing the local government agenda in Ghana from a different perspective.  He assured that all human resource gaps that needed urgent attention would also be addressed.

He suggested standardisation of recruitment of local government staff and was hopeful that deliberations by the two Councils would bring the needed results

ILGS COUNCIL CHAIR

Prof. Emeritus Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Chair of the  Institute of the Local Government Studies was appreciative of the joint meeting which he described as very crucial, he said the roles and duties of the two Councils would help them perform better.

PRESENTATIONS

There were presentations from the Head of the Local Government Service, Dr. Ing. Nana Ato Arthur; the Director of the ILGS, Dr. Nicholas Awortwi and Madam Mariam W. A. Kpakaph, Chief Director of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.

Source:              PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT (MLGDRD)