Mr. Dan Botwe, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development

The Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) has organized an intensive capacity building workshop on Executive Leadership and Management for the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the northern zone.

The training held last week in the northern regional capital, Tamale, was part of efforts by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (LGDRD) to deepen the leadership and managerial skills of the MMDCEs.  

Minister for Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development Mr. Daniel Kweku Botwe in a media interview said it has been the practice of the ministry to take the MMDCEs through orientations anytime they are appointed.

He added programmes are prepared by the Institute of Local Government Studies to build their capacity to provide quality leadership service.

“When they (MMDCEs) were appointed, immediately under the instructions of President Nana Akufo-Addo, they were taken through orientation, strategic training on leadership and management of their sector on how to deal with people, how to motivate them and how to get people to achieve the objectives of their Annual Action Plans that they setup for their various districts,” he explained.

Mr. Dan Botwe pointed out that the country is divided into four zones and the MMDCEs are met periodically and given such training.

He added this year, the ministry in collaboration with the institute of local government studies have already held similar trainings for the southern part and middle part of the country and it is now the turn of the northern zone.

“I can confirm that based on these regular trainings that we have, I can see improvement in the delivery of the MMDCEs and I expect that today’s training will deliver the expected outcome,” he added.

The Minister did not also mince words in lauding the resource persons selected to facilitate the training, describing them as knowledgeable and the best that can be found in the country and anywhere in the world.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive for Sagnarigu, Mr. Ahmed Yakubu Mohammed, in a separate interview on the sidelines of the programme said the training will equip them with the needed skills and attitude to discharge their duties diligently.

He noted much is required of them as leaders to guide and lead their respective assemblies to achieve the objectives of the government.

In his view, the local government system is a very broad sector and complex and reiterated much is required of them as MMDCEs to perform creditably.

The Sagnarigu MCE stressed aside performing their administrative and executive functions, they are also expected to perform political functions in their districts.