info@businessghana.com
The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has advised the confirmed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chiefs Executives (MMDCEs) not to be armchair chief executives.
He admonished them to be proactive in the discharge of their duties, explaining that they were expected to work to enhance development in the districts.
Mr Ibrahim, who is also the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda, was speaking at the Banda District Assembly special meeting to confirm President John Dramani Mahama's nominee, Peter Dongi, as Banda District Chief Executive (DCE) at Banda in the Bono Region on Monday.
There were 19 assembly members made up of 13 elected members and six government appointees.
At the end of the election, all 19 assembly members voted in favour of Mr Dongi, giving him 100 per cent endorsement.
Out of the 12 municipal and district assemblies in the region, 10 assemblies have successfully confirmed their Chief Executives.
Mr Ibrahim urged the MMDCEs to use their positions to serve their districts and not to amass wealth for themselves.
"You're here to serve and not to amass wealth. If you're appointed for a position, it means you're to serve. You have huge responsibilities to perform.”
"Don't be too excited about your position, because it's a call to serve your people," he said.
Mr Ibrahim urged them to work hard, be transparent and truthful in the discharge of their duties.
He advised them to humble themselves and seek advice and directions from experienced politicians and technocrats.
"These four years are a golden period for development," he said.
Mr Ibrahim said the government was working hard to ensure timely nomination and confirmation of MMDCEs to commence work.
He called on the chiefs and people of Banda to unite to develop the area.
Mr Ibrahim said without unity, it would be very tough to develop the area no matter the resources available.
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, appealed to the chiefs to support the government to eliminate illegal mining popularly known as "galamsey" in the area.
He said galamsey was wreaking havoc in the area as large tracts of farmland and rivers were destroyed, which was likely to threaten the government flagship initiative, "Feed Ghana Programme" since the intervention would require fertile land to implement.
Mr Akwaboa said galamsey was not the only job available for the youth, explaining that the government was rolling out several decent jobs for them.
He said it was sad that some cashew farmers in the region were selling out their farms to illegal miners.
He said the Bono Regional Security Council (REGSEC) would soon intensify its operations to arrest and prosecute galamseyers and advised them to stay away to avoid prosecution.
Mr Akwaboa charged MMDCEs, particularly Mr Dongi, to work hard to justify his nomination and 100 per cent confirmation.
He appealed to the chiefs and people of the area to support Mr Dongi to succeed.
The Banda DCE, Mr Dongi, promised to prioritise agriculture and fishing sectors because the sectors were the main economic activities for the vast majority of the people in the area.
He said he would work hard to advance the sectors to attract more resources for farmers and fishermen to improve their income.
He said he would convene a District Business Forum with business owners to solicit their ideas to be implemented in the district's 2026-2029 Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP).
Mr Dongi pledged to work with the chiefs, security agencies and other stakeholders to promote environmental protection through combating galamsey, herdsmen, bushfires and illegal logging in the district.
