Kumasi sub-Metro District Councilors undergo orientation

A day's orientation workshop to update Kumasi sub-Metro District Councilors on their core mandates and responsibilities to advance the cause of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), has been held at the Sunset Hotel, Kumasi, on Tuesday, July 25, 2017.

The programme, organized by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly  and the Office of the Local Government Service, brought together Assembly Members, Councilors and other staff drawn from all the nine sub-Metros under the Assembly.

They included Kwadaso, Bantama, Tafo, Suame, Subin, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Nhyiaeso and Manhyia.

Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), in an opening address, explained that the Assembly concept was a catalyst for realizing development goals of the nation.

He said it was, therefore, appropriate for Assembly Members to be conversant with the relevant laws such as the Local Government Act 936 (2016), as well as the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2223.

Hon. Assibey Antwi stressed that this was critical for the Assembly to work within the confines of their mandate for the successful implementation of developmental programmes and projects.

â??It is only fair that adequate and structured training programmes are given to you to enable you have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the workings of the Councils, and their boundaries within which councilors can operate in the discharge of their functions ceded to them by the assemblyâ??, he emphasized.

The MCE said they ought to work closely with their electorates by providing them with the workings and developments at the assembly.

Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, Head of the Local Government Service, drew the attention of the participants to the need to make available information and relevant data to the public.

He said information as relates to the budgetary allocation to the KMA and its disbursement, as well as implementation of development projects and programmes ought to be made transparent to the people.

This was critical to ensure accountability in the local government concept for the benefit of the nation.        

Also present was Mr.  Joseph Dasana, the Chief Director at the Local Government Service