Inter-Ministerial committee holds workshop on decentralization
The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralization has engaged stakeholders in a Joint Decentralization Review Mission (JDRM) to review the process for 2012.
The JDRM is an annual workshop which seeks to review the implementation of decentralization reforms in the country.
Addressing stakeholders from the Eastern and Volta regions at the weekend, Dr Callistus Mahama, the Executive Secretary of the IMCC, said the IMCC was mandated to facilitate all cross-sector relation to decentralization in Ghana.
He said the IMCC sought to ensure an effective ministerial realignment which is an institutional measure that properly puts all the decentralized ministries and institutions in effective operational perspective in the implementation of Ghana’s decentralization.
Dr Mahama said the ministerial realignment in the implementation of the decentralization policy was very crucial as it helps to identify common challenges and to eliminate duplication of functions and activities.
He said IMCC’s work would identify problems and challenges regarding decentralization in Ghana and assist institutions to address them.
Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, Volta Regional Minister, in an address read on his behalf, said Ghana adopted the decentralization policy in 1988 under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to have a decentralized local government system with the propagation of PNDC Law 207.
He said the policy aimed at ensuring an inclusive, participating democratic system of local government, ensuring accountability at the assembly and assembly members’ relationship that would make sure that the needs of the people were addressed.
The Regional Minister said the policy also aimed to provide for the decentralization of functions best performed at the local levels to the district assembles and the sub-structures.
He said at all levels of governance decentralization was a very important key to non-political players which include traditional authorities, religious bodies, the media, non-governmental organizations, trades and business associations.
Mr David Appiah, a representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), commended Ghana for the adoption of the decentralization policy.
He was of the view that more works needed to be done to see the policy fully implemented.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, who chaired the workshop, said Ghana had almost fully decentralized because it had basically accomplished all the three stages of decentralization.
She called on assembly members and all stakeholders to collaborate.
Source: GNA