The Northern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), has, at a symbolic ceremony, officially handed over a Secretariat to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to work in the region for one week.
The Secretariat which has a bigger office for the minister with a reception, a conference hall and two offices for the two Deputy Ministers of the Ministry, is to enable the minister and directors of the ministry discharge their official duties as the ministry has moved from Accra to operate in the region.
This decision by the Local Government Ministry to work two weeks in the various regions every month, is part of efforts and strategies of the ministry to bring local governance to the door steps of the citizenry.
The minister and the two deputy ministers will not only be based in Tamale, but will also be working in the various districts to interact with the citizenry to get first-hand information about the problems of the people, inspect on-going projects and commission completed ones..
Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Northern Regional Minister said the RCC is committed to enhancing the local governance system in the country, and that the decision by the Ministry to work in the region was a means to strengthen the RCC efforts.
He said this was the first time some communities in the region would be seeing, interacting and having the feel of government officials at their doorsteps, to listen to their problems and share with them their concerns and the way forward.
Mr Julius Debrah, Local Government Minister said the ministry’s decision to operate in the region was aimed at strengthening decentralization, and to make officials available and accessible to the local communities where the various assemblies operate..
Mr Debrah said the second and third issues are to boost the enthusiasm of the citizenry towards the National Sanitation Day (NSD) Campaign and the District Assembly Elections which are scheduled for February 7 and March 3 respectively.
He said the assembly elections are meant to strengthen Ghana’s local governance system to bring about development in the local communities, while the NSD is to improve sanitation and promote public health in the country.
The NSD campaign is also to change the attitudes of the citizenry towards the indiscriminate disposal of refuse, in order to get rid of filth in the country.
Nii Lante Vanderpuiye, a Deputy Minister of Local Government, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to promote development in the various districts to improve the living condition of the people.
He thanked the RCC for the warm reception given them and expressed the ministry’s appreciation to the entire region for the co-operation.
Caption:
Picture shows Alhaji Muniru Limuna, Northern Regional Minister and Mr Julius Debrah, Local Government Minister (middle), Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye (left) and Mr Emmanuel Kwadjo Agyekum (right) in a smock, both deputy ministers, Mr Hanan Gundadoo, Mayor of Tamale (also in smock), and some other directors of the ministry in the Secretariat’s Conference Room.
GNA
