Local Government Service Council Inaugurated

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday inaugurated a 15-member Local Government Service Council, with a charge to ensure integrity in Ghana’s local governance system.

He also exhorted the Council members to offer honest advice on administrative decentralisation and uplift their game as a crucial strategic partner to the Government in its growth and development agenda.

‘Ensure that local Government Services remains committed to its core values of professionalism, objectivity, integrity, accountability, impartiality, neutrality and customer sensitivity,’ Vice President Bawumia said at the inaugural ceremony at the Flagstaff House in Accra.

Members of the Council, chaired by Mr Rex Owusu Ansah, include the Head of Local Government Service, Dr Stephen N.A. Arthur, two nominees of the President, Dr Esther O. Ofei Aboagye and Rev. Mrs Sanatu Nantogma, two nominees of Civil Service Organisations; Ms Gladys Gillian N. Tetteh and Mr Saaka Sayuti.

The others are Ms Dorothy Akosua Onny, a nominee of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Isaac Asiamah, the Director-General, NDPC, Mr Isaac Nsarko Biney, Ministry of Education, Dr John K. Awoonor-Williams, Ministry of Health nominee, and Ms Irene Naa Torshie Addo, the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund.

The rest are a nominee of the National Association of Local Government Authorities of Ghana, Mr Felix N. Nii Annang-La, a nominee of the Local Government Workers, Mr Abdul Haleem Amadu, the Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies, Dr Dadson Awunyo-Vitor, and a nominee of the National House of Chiefs, Nana Soglo Allo IV.

Dr Bawumia entreated the members to bring their experiences to bear in developing an effective multi-sectoral cooperation with other services, departments and agencies for better implementation of government programmes.

‘Your invitation to serve on the Council is to tap into your reserve knowledge, expertise, and skills in the management of the Service. I have no doubt that I can count on your competence, ability, influence and dedicated service’.

The Vice President urged the Council to ensure that the implementation of Human Resource policies were fair to all and devoid of favouritism.

Mr Owusu Ansah, on behalf of the Council, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to render service to the country.

He said the Council was prepared to work to fast track the effective administration and management of the decentralised system, which had been the expectations of governments in the past four decades.

Source: GNA