Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Dan Botwe has indicated that the Institute of Local Government Studies is being revamped to be able to provide structured training to all categories of local government functionaries and staff.
This is to deepen local governance and the decentralization programme in order to help the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) efficiently and effectively perform their functions.
This has been envisaged in the establishment law, the Institute of Local Government Studies Act, 2003 (Act 647).
Accordingly, Mr Dan Botwe has promised to prioritise the training and development of the MMDCEs throughout their tenure of office.
“Various executive courses are being designed by the Institute to expand your capability to lead, inspire, and achieve. This zonal refresher certificate course and many other programmes will be offered MMDCEs to expand your knowledge, global perspectives and analytical skill on local governance and local level development issues” he said.
Mr Dan Botwe made these remarks when he addressed the opening ceremony of a three-day capacity building training for MMDCEs from the five regions in the north and Bono East Region.
Feedback on policies
The Minister who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere noted that after all these capacity building programmes and subsequent ones, the ministry will devise appropriate strategies to obtain real-time feedback from the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) on the delivery of government programmes and projects for evidence-based decision-making and policy direction at the Central Government level.
Mr. Dan Botwe added that the ministry will enhance the District Data Development Platform (DDDP), which is a computerised data-based system to be accessed by the MMDAs, Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs), National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Office of the Head of Local Government Service (OHLGS) and the ministry.
In addition, he disclosed the ministry has initiated processes to develop a feedback ICT based system known as ‘DASHBOARD’ to have direct feedback from MMDCEs on pertinent issues in the MMDAs.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu, for his part commended the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development for rolling out this novel programme.
He said the forum provides an opportunity for the MMDCEs to interact and share ideas with highly resourceful persons and experts, in enhancing their performance at the local level.
“Most of us here do not recall any such activity taking place in times past and we therefore have to commend the Hon Minister for such a significant initiative. Our MMDCEs must therefore consider themselves very privileged to benefit from this initiative”.
