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A local governance expert, Dr Richard Fiadomor, has said the realigned Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs will promote effective administration at the local level.
He said the merger of the former Ministries of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development would not only create one of the largest ministries in the country but also significantly strengthen local governance.
Dr Fiadomor, who is also the President of the Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG), was responding to a question posed to him by the Daily Graphic on the decision by the Mahama administration to re-align the Local Government Ministry and fused it with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Merger
"The merger or realignment of both ministries, for me, was properly thought through and hence would not in any way affect the previous functions of the defunct Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs," Dr Fiadomor said.
He added that it would not also water down the original functions of the previous Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.
He further stated that the operationalisation of the activities and functions of the now-defunct Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry were largely local government area-based.
“Traditional leaders across the country have their palaces located within specific local government areas and their powers and authority are localised within jurisdictions which were largely confined within towns and communities which made a local government area- Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
“The traditional authorities are major stakeholders of the MMDAs and have in the past played and continue to play a pivotal role in the effective administration of the MMDAs,” he said.
Dr Fiadomor added that representatives of traditional areas across the country had been involved in the decision and policymaking of the MMDAs as government appointees (Assembly Members), saying they had undoubtedly contributed immensely towards the development of the MMDAs.
"It is also instructive to note that some traditional authorities have a big say and influence as to who gets nominated as the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive (MMDCE) for many MMDAs.
"This goes to buttress the interconnectivity and inseparable relationship between local government and traditional authorities," Dr Fiadomor explained.
This merger, he said would, therefore, go a long way to enhance local governance and promote sustainable development.
Nominee
Concerning the nomination of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda, Ahmed Ibrahim, as the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs designate, Dr Fiadomor expressed confidence in his ability to lead the ministry effectively.
"I have no doubt in my mind that he is more than qualified and experienced to man the ministry in its current shape and form," he stated.
"I believe he will bring his vast experience as the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament Select Committee on Local Government over the years to bear on the effective administration of the ministry," he said.
Profile
Mr Ibrahim, the incumbent National Democratic Congress MP for Banda in the Bono Region, has been a legislator since 2009, with a background in finance and public administration.
