Accra: Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has highlighted the necessity for effective local government structures, emphasizing that citizens often evaluate the government's performance based on their interactions with local institutions. He pointed out that President John Dramani Mahama had emphasized local government's role as the primary and most immediate point of contact between citizens and the state.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister made these remarks during a courtesy call by the Committee of the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving (NDPT) to formally congratulate him on his appointment and engage with him and his management team. Mr Ayariga noted that years of public affairs mismanagement have led to increasing mistrust among citizens, compounded by misconduct from some religious leaders affecting public confidence in religious institutions.
Mr Ayariga urged a collective effort to rebuild trust in government, local governance structures, and faith-based institutions. He stressed that a lack of trust would hinder the mobilization of citizens to pursue key social and economic objectives. The Minister explained that ineffective local government structures could lead people to conclude that the government was not working for them.
He identified assembly members, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Mayors, and Coordinating Directors as the first public officials citizens encounter in their daily lives. His mission is to ensure that local government structures work efficiently and respond to people's needs. Sanitation, he noted, is a basic service expected from local authorities, and effective systems are necessary to prevent apathy, chaos, and insanitary conditions.
The ministry plans to deepen collaboration with religious bodies, including churches and mosques, to promote mindset change and responsible environmental behavior. Mr Ayariga acknowledged the significant influence of religious institutions within communities, which could help mobilize citizens to address sanitation and other community challenges.
He also committed to working closely with religious leaders to preserve Ghana's culture of peaceful coexistence among different religious groups, describing religious harmony as a national inheritance that must be protected for future generations. He highlighted that both the state and religious organizations ultimately aim for the population's welfare and development.
Religious organizations have expanded their activities beyond spiritual matters, establishing hospitals, schools, universities, financial institutions, and housing projects to meet citizens' immediate needs. The government has historically supported these efforts by providing personnel and other forms of assistance. Mr Ayariga emphasized the need for stronger partnerships to leverage the "social capital" in religious institutions for national development and improved public service delivery.
He encouraged religious leaders to use their experience and influence to restore public confidence, arguing that citizens would be more supportive of national development initiatives when they trust the leading institutions. Mr Ayariga assured religious leaders of his ministry's openness to their advice and guidance, stressing that restoring confidence in Ghana's institutions must be a collective and system-wide responsibility.