The 5th Session of the Mampong Municipal Assembly of the 9th Assembly has been inaugurated at a colourful ceremony organized at the forecourt of the Assembly on Monday 12th February, 2024.
The swearing-in of the assembly members was done by His Worship Dennis Eyram, Magistrate at the Mampong District Court, whilst Madam Felicia Dapaah, Chief Director at the Office of the Local Government Service, who represented the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo inaugurated the assembly and delivered the President’s inaugural address on his behalf.
In all, 33 elected Assembly members and 15 government appointees were inducted into office as Mampong Assembly Members to commence their four year term beginning from 2024 to 2027.
The President in his inaugural address read on his behalf by the above named Chief Director, congratulated the elected assembly members on winning the assembly membership position in the District Level Elections (DLEs) conducted on Tuesday 19th and Thursday, 21st December, 2023 and extended same commendation to the government appointees.
The President charged Assembly Members to work closely with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) to create new innovative ways to generate Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for the development of the local areas.
He also entreated the Assembly Members to build healthy working relationships among themselves and with the MCE as well as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and their electorates and form a strong partnership with staff of the assembly and relevant institutions as well as Nananom and Traditional Authority, to facilitate the work of the municipal assembly, adding that, by so doing the ideals of local governance can be optimized for the benefit of the local people.
The President further acknowledged and underscored the unique role played by assembly members in the development of local communities. He, therefore, implored members of the assembly to cooperate with the MCE and take decisions devoid of politics and in the ultimate interest of the municipality.
On his part, the Mamponghene, Daasebre Dr. Osei Bonsu II, who chaired lamented low funding for the District Assemblies in Ghana. He asserted that inadequate funds allocated to the district assemblies as District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) coupled with low income which the assemblies mobilized as income generated fund (IGF) deprive the assemblies from taking certain bold decisions to undertake development projects to benefit the society. He, therefore, urged government to take a serious consideration on improving the funding of the district assemblies.
The occupant of the Silver Stool of the Asante kingdom also called for full implementation of decentralization in the country. Daasebre stated categorically that the decentralization system being implemented in the country could not be described as a true decentralization. “Decentralization in Ghana is on paper”, Mamponghene stated.
He indicated that most of the underlying and underpinning features of decentralization is visibly not prominent in the country’s decentralization. He explained that even though the country is practicing decentralization, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) do not really have power and authority and are also not independence as prescribed under a true decentralization system.
Mamponghene reiterated that MMDCEs cannot take certain decisions unless they get absolute and explicit approval from the Regional Minister. He intimated among other things that even funds allocated to MMDCEs are strictly controlled in its use and application including some deductions at source by the Local Government Ministry for some transactions on behalf of the District Assemblies.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu II added that the Regional Ministers on the other hand can also not take some major decisions without the authorization and ultimate consent from the Central Government.
Stretching his argument and explaining more on his position, Daasebre said public and civil servants are not left out on this web, especially heads of institutions in the districts who have to always seek clearance and approval from their Regional Offices and Headquarters, Accra before taking any initiative or adopt some measures. He also stated that in most cases, some little issues concerning staff in the local areas can be solved or resolved only at the Regional Level or Accra.
He disclosed that even in critical situations where public servants in the exigency of time and resource constraints take certain innovative decisions that inure to the benefit of the larger society or the institutions they served, they are sanctioned for misapplication by Auditors.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu II stressed that if we continue on these paths and operate in these ways, then what is the essence of the decentralization.
He, therefore, called on the government to actualize the full implementation of decentralization being practiced in Ghana to reflect its meaning and terminology.
Daasebre commended the Chief Director at the Office of the Local Government Service and expressed the hope that the concerns he has raised would be communicated to the authorities for consideration and lasting solutions.
Deasebre Osei Bonsu II also assured the assembly members of his total support to enable them to work effectively in their various communities, saying, “ I’m ever ready assist you to get assistance from relevant authorities to address the developmental needs of the citizens in your areas”, he promised.
Mamponghene further commended the staff of the Mampong Municipal Assembly who have been working assiduously to enhance the development of the municipality.
Daasebre used the opportunity to assured the people of Mampong that so far as he remains as the occupant of the Silver Stool and the second in command in the Asante Kingdom, he would continue to do what is within his power and means to serve in the best interest of the Mampongnians.
In his welcome address, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Thomas Appiah Kubi urged the assembly members, as representative of the people, to perform their duties in a visible, transparent and accountable manner in order that every action on their part would be opened to the public, adding that, by so doing the citizens would know and be able to hold the assembly members accountable if their interests are not adequately being represented.
The MCE further implored the assembly members to be in close contact with the people they represent and engage them frequently in order to know their immediate needs and concerns, and follow up with request for the assembly’s intervention.
The inauguration of the Assembly was graced by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere Central, Nsuta, Hon. Benjamin Kingsley Kodua (Pozo), the Municipal Co-ordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Mohamed Mumuni, the Ashanti North Regional Police Commander, ACP Mr. Jude Cobbina and other security heads, the clergy, Nananom, citizens and invited guests, heads of Department and staff of the Assembly and the media.
