MMDCEs tasked to curb shortfalls that impede development
 
Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, has called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to strive to overcome obstacles that impede development in their respective assemblies.

He said the Regional Coordinating Council’s quarterly monitoring and evaluation of the various assemblies in the Region last year identified a number of shortfalls that mitigated against the development of many assemblies.

Speaking at the opening of a two day meeting with 22 MMDCEs to review the performances of the Assemblies for the past year, Mr Aidoo said some of the factors affecting assemblies include staff absenteeism, late submission of reports to authorized agencies and institutions; and lack of team work.

Others, he said, are unanswered audit queries, several uncompleted projects, as well as low internally-generated funds and over reliance on District Assemblies’ Common Fund.

Mr Aidoo said the MMDCEs were responsible for the total development of a given area and urged them to curtail these shortfalls and mobilize the human, natural and financial resources for development.

He said the Western Region performed creditably in all the sectors of the economy last year and commended the various stakeholders for their individual and collective efforts.

The Regional Minister, however, said in spite of the successes, the region still faced a number of challenges including, illegal mining operations, smuggling of cocoa beans to neighbouring countries, chieftaincy and land litigation issues, child labour on cocoa farms, as well as, inadequate education and health facilities.

He urged the MMDCEs to channel a greater portion of their resources towards addressing these challenges and pledged the Regional Coordinating Council’s preparedness to offer the needed support.

Mr Aidoo said no meaningful development could take place in a chaotic environment and urged them to help sustain the peace and stability in the region, through team work and quality leadership.

SOURCE: GNA