Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah has today sworn into office nine Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, at the Regional Coordinating Council.
The newly sworn-in MMDCES are: Eric Kwaku Kusi, Adansi North District, Alexander Frimpong- Asante Akyim South District, Catherine Reckling, Sekyere South District; Kwaku Kyei Barfour for the Berkwai Municipal Assembly and Nana Okyere Tawia Antwi, for Atwima Kwanwoma District.
The rest are: Mary Boatenmaa Marfo, for Sekyere East District Assembly, Michael Awuku Amoah, Atwima Nwabiagya District, David [ads1]Akwesi Asare, Offinso North District Assembly and Solomon Kesse, also for the Offinso South Municipal Assembly.
These appointments are in accordance with Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, and Section 20(1) of the Local Governance Act 2016, Act 936 on appointment of MMDCES.
The appointment and subsequent swearing into office of the MMDCES has become necessary as it complements the process of putting in place the full complement of the government architecture for the effective administration of this country.
Advising them after swearing them into office, Hon. Osei-Mensah urged them to avoid partisanship in their approach to issues and tasked them to let the development of the entire district and the people be their pre-occupation at all times.
According to the Regional Minister, the MMDCES are taking office at the time that their districts are faced with lot of challenges notable among which are sanitation, environmental degradation as a result of galamsey and other human activities and above all managerial/administrative challenges.
To him, it was important for them to study the grounds quickly and proffer solutions to these challenges, stressing “especially you have to tackle the issue of assets registration. Take up to date inventory of all the Assembly’s assets and emboss them with the appropriate addresses and logos and up-date them regularly. Check absenteeism, lateness and ensure that every worker does what is expected of him or her.”
He also urged them to focus on building a solid foundation for smooth economic take-off, adding that the President’s developmental agenda will largely rest on how they position their districts to take up the many opportunities that the central government will roll out.
The minister called for unity and trust among members of the Assemblies, traditional Leaders and the MMDCES.
Also present at the short ceremony were, Hon. Elisabeth Agyeman, Deputy Ashanti regional Minister, Mayor of Kumasi, Osei Assibey Antwi, among others.