Hajia Alima Mahama, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), has assured Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) of government's commitment to resolving their challenges to enhance service delivery.

In this direction, she said the government had embarked on the construction of new office buildings across the country for the Assemblies to work more efficiently.

She said logistics, which included vehicles, computers, office desk were provided to help the newly created 44 MMDAs to stand on their feet.

The Minister said this in a speech delivered on her behalf by Mr C.K Dondieu, Chief Director, MLGRD at an Awards ceremony in Accra to acknowledge ten MMDAs for their performance in 2018 in the Local Government Service Performance Contracts assessment ranking.

She said as part of capacity building, the Ministry in collaboration with the Institute of Local Government Studies had organised a nationwide orientation and training programme for newly elected and appointed assembly members to deepen their knowledge of the local government system.

She said the Ministry had also instituted measures to help improve the Internally Generated Funds of the Assemblies to achieve the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

Mr Ishmael Ashitey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, said the Performance Management System (PMS) was instituted to streamline operational efficiencies and to enhance staff productivity, increase job satisfaction, develop competencies and achieve the full potential of all staff in the Service.

"It is the Performance Contracts are signed between Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Co-ordinating Directors (MMDCD) on yearly basis to evaluate achievement of set objectives and targets in service delivery within a given time frame by all staff of the Assemblies," he said.

He said, on the other hand, the Performance Contract had ensured that officers were provided with schedules on which specific outcomes could be demanded at the end of the evaluation period and recommendations given to address the capacity gaps identified.

He said the initiatives by the government had contributed immensely to the achievement of the overall goal of the Local Government Service in particular and the Government in general in the delivery of its mandate.

Dr Nana Ato Arthur, Head of the Local Government Service, said Performance Contracts were based on planned achievement of indicators in Key Performance Areas (KPAs).

He said to engender competition among MMDAs, an award scheme was instituted by the OHLGS not only to reward excellence but also to stimulate district level performance to deepen local governance and decentralization adding that since its institution six (6) years ago, four (4) contracts have since been signed; 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2020.

"The 2018 ranking, One Hundred and Twenty Three (123) out of the then Two Hundred and Sixteen (216) Assemblies performed creditably well and I am particularly excited at this sterling performance despite limited resources available at their disposal," he said.

He said the awards to the Assemblies would demonstrate resilience and deploy the Ghanaian ''Can Do Spirit'' to make great strides in their respective areas of operation leading to the achievement of results.

"By your efforts, you have proved that the LGS is on its way to greatness," he said.

He expressed his indebtedness to the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and MMDCEs, Administrator of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF), the Head of the Civil Service and the Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Co-ordinating Committee on Decentralization (IMCCod) for their partnership, co-operation and collaboration in several spheres of our endeavours.

The 10 best MMDAs in order of best performance were; Asokore Mampong Municipal, Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai, Tema Metropolitan, Akatsi North, Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal, Adenta Municipal, Ejura Sekyeredumase Municipal, Asunafo North Municipal, Bekwai Municipal and Builsa South.

All ten MMDAs received citations and MMDCDs received plaques; the first position received three desktop computers, three printers, and two scanners, the second position; three desktop computers, two printers, and two scanners, the third position; two desktop computers, two printers, and two scanners and from fourth to tenth positions; one desktop computer and one scanner.