NDAP provides the involvement of Non-State Actors - Minister

Cape Coast (C/R), Feb. 12, GNA - Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said the National Decentralisation Action Plan (NDAP) of 2010 provides the involvement of Non-State Actors (NSA) in local governance as one of the ten action areas.He said the policy objectives were to clarify and strengthen the roles and relationships between key NSA members, such as traditional authorities and civil society groups in local governance.Mr Oppong-Fosu was addressing members of the Central Regional House of Chiefs at Cape Coast on Wednesday.He said this would contribute towards increasing the involvement of NSA in local governance in Ghana as well as strengthening the roles and relationship between NSA and the Local Government.Mr Oppong-Fosu said, as part of efforts to strengthening Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development had provided investment and capacity building grants under the District Development Facility (DDF) and the Urban Development Grant (UDG)He said since the inception of the project, GHC 36,806. 651 had been transferred under the UDG, whiles GHC332, 293,965.95 had been transferred under the DDF for various infrastructural projects nation-wide and appealed to the traditional councils to take active interest in what went on in the assemblies.Mr Oppong-Fosu also urged Nananom to monitor the performance of their assemblies. He added that ordinary citizens were denied basic funds for development, adding, Central Region ranks seventh out of 10 regions with a total receipts of 23,579, 102.65.Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, President of the Central House of Chiefs said chieftaincy was the bedrock of local governance and would not be sustainable without the participation on Nananom.He said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development sought to promote the establishment and development of a vibrant and well resourced decentralised system of government for the people of Ghana to ensure good governance and balanced rural based development.Mr Samuel Sarpong, Central Regional Minister said Government is poised support the infrastructural development of chiefs in their various traditional areas.He said these were to promote the living standards of the people in the various traditional areas.Caption:Pictures show Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu addressing members of the Central Regional Traditional Council, with him on the high table is Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi, Mr Samuel Sarpong, Central Regional Minister, Ms Priscilla Arhin.GNAAT/EDW/EA Read Full Story