Kumasi: The President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Alfred Asiedu Adjei, has delivered a strong message to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), declaring that the era of making promises without delivering results is over. Addressing Presiding Members at the Ashanti Regional Conference of Presiding Members in Kumasi, Asiedu Adjei emphasized the need for visible development, transparency, and responsive leadership from local authorities, warning that a failure to meet these expectations could result in a loss of public confidence.
According to Ghana Web, the conference, themed 'Leading Change at the Grassroots: The Role of Presiding Members,' gathered local government leaders to discuss strategies for strengthening decentralized governance and improving service delivery. Asiedu Adjei urged Presiding Members to drive development by ensuring that Assembly resolutions lead to tangible improvements in citizens' lives.
Asiedu Adjei highlighted that communities expect Assemblies to address pressing development challenges such as poor roads, inadequate sanitation, flooding, unemployment, and healthcare with practical solutions rather than endless deliberations. He stressed that leaders are remembered for the problems they solve, not the positions they hold.
Furthermore, the NALAG President encouraged Presiding Members to move beyond procedural responsibilities, champion accountability, build consensus, and promote innovation within their Assemblies. He called on MMDAs to embrace technology, enhance internally generated revenue mobilization, and adopt data-driven planning to boost efficiency and service delivery.
Additionally, Asiedu Adjei emphasized the importance of transparency in managing public funds, asserting that public trust hinges on citizen involvement in decision-making and holding Assemblies accountable for resource management. He appealed to local authorities to ensure inclusive representation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in governance processes, emphasizing that inclusive development is crucial for national progress.
Reaffirming NALAG's commitment, Asiedu Adjei advocated for improved welfare for Assembly Members and Presiding Members through enhanced logistics, capacity building, and timely payment of allowances. He concluded by reminding participants that Ghana's development agenda will ultimately be judged by the performance of its local governments, stating that the success of Assemblies leads to the success of districts, regions, and ultimately the nation.