Executive interferences hindering effective
decentralisation- Kyei-Baffour
Wa, (U/W), June 24, Ghanadot/GNA -
A local governance expert, Mr George Kyei-Baffour, has
identified the overbearing role of metropolitan, municipal
and district chief executives (MMDCE's) as one of the
challenges of decentralisation and local governance.
He said Executive interference in the disbursement of the
District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and the re-centralisation
of procurement at decentralised levels through the passage
of the Public Procurement Act 663, were other bottlenecks in
the decentralisation process.
Mr Kyei-Baffour, a former President of the National
Association of Local Government Authority, was speaking on
the topic: “Empowering District Assemblies for Enhance
Economic and Political Governance at a workshop in Wa, in
the Upper West Region.
It was organised by the Administrator of the DACF for
members of the Parliamentary Press Corps.
Mr Kyei-Baffour said the processes involved in the
confirmation of MMDCE's, the effects of regime change, which
sometimes brings about revocation of the appointments of
government appointees and undue interference of political
party agents, through seizures of assemblies’ property were
also areas hindering effective decentralisation.
He said there was the need to deepen the role of Parliament
to ensure that decentralisation was in line with the
provisions of the constitution.
Mr Kyei-Baffour said a review of all legislations
inconsistent with the principles of decentralisation, such
as the Internal Audit Agency Act 658, Public Procurement Act
663 and the Local Service Act 656 was needed to make local
governance effective.
The expert said the remuneration of assembly members should
be looked at to motivate them while undue executive
influence should be removed to make decentralisation more
meaningful.
Mr Joshua Nicol, Administrator of the Common Fund, who spoke
on the utilisation and challenges of the DACF, said the lack
of effective monitoring of projects, absence of qualified
engineers, quantity surveyors and other personnel to assist
in estimates preparations and the misapplication of funds,
were some of the problems associated with the use of the
Common Fund.
GNA
