TANO SOUTH DISTRICT UNIT COMMITTEES AND TOWN COUNCILS INAUGURATED

Seven Unit Committees, two Town and Five Area Councils have been inaugurated in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region. In a speech to inaugurate the committees and councils at separate functions, the Tano South District Chief Executive, Honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba, congratulated and extended the presidents warmest regards to the elected Unit Committee members and town and area councils. He said the election of Unit Committee members is a mark of confidence the people have in town councils and are therefore expected to live up to expectation. He advised them to serve the people and country at the local government level in a way and manner that will let people appreciate the fact that they are truly participating in the decision making process and governance of the nation.

Honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba said there can be no effective decentralization without the Unit Committee, Area and Town councils. He underscored some duties assigned to the Unit Committees as

· Supervise the staff of District Assembly performing duties in its area of activity

· Assist in revenue collection

· Organize communal and voluntary work

· Educate the people in tier rights, privileges, obligations and responsibilities.

· Provide focal point for discussion of local matters and make recommendations to assembly

· Monitor the implementation of self help and develop projects

· Assist in enumerating and keeping recording levying and collection of rates for protects and programmes

In performing the above functions, the District Chief Executive urged them to have due regard to the interest of the people in their communities. This he said presupposes that members should relegate their personal and political paroctrial interest to the background. Due to the low mobilization of revenue in the district, the District Chief Executive called on the new Unit committee members to develop new strategies in collaboration with their various Assembly Members and management to generate adequate revenue to complement the efforts of central government. He entreated them to work with a common purpose of developing the communities for a better Ghana.

The various unit committees and council members were sworn into office and were also made to swear the oath of secrecy. The area/town council executives were elected at the various levels to steer the affairs of their various town and area councils.

Representatives of the various town and council pledged their commitment to the decentralization process and also support the District Assembly in all its developmental programmes, especially revenue mobilization.

TANO SOUTH DISTRICT NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CIVIC EDUCATION CELEBRATES 11TH ANNUAL CONSTITUTION WEEK

As part of the National 11^th Annual Constitution Week Celebration, the Tano South District’s National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organized a durbar to commemorate the celebration.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Deputy Director of National Commission for Civic Education, Mr. Michael Amponsah in a speech said the 1992 constitution requires the state to actively promote the integration of the people of Ghana and to prohibit discrimination and prejudice. He said, it is towards this ends that the constitution requires the country to take appropriate steps to encourage democracy. Mr. Amponsah said the constitution is designed to provide a general legal framework for the governance of Ghana.

He further hinted that the constitution enjoins the parliament of Ghana to ensure the smooth implementation of the decentralization programme. The Regional Deputy Director

revealed that the constitution has also established a major source of funding for the work of the Assemblies through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), which is intended to complement the districts internally generated revenues for development. He revealed that as a measure to demonstrate the importance of the decentralization process and national commitment for further decentralization. This he said was the reason for the insertion of article 254 into the constitution that allows parliament to enact and take necessary steps for further decentralization of the administrative funct

ions and projects of the Central Government, but shall not exercise any control over the District Assemblies that is incompatible with their decentralized status.

In a welcome speech, the Tano South District Director of National Commission for Civic Education Madam Cynthia Anima Boadu, said the aim of this celebration is to remind ourselves as Ghanaians that 28^th April, 1992 was the day Ghanaians voted in a referendum to adopt 1992 constitution which is the tap root of the country’s democracy and fundamental law of the land. She said this year’s theme “The state of Ghana’s Democracy” is to educate Ghanaians on the democracy of the country. She further revealed that last year’s theme “Enhancing constitutionalism through Effective Citizen’s participation for Good Governance”, encourage Ghanaians to demand accountability from possible office bearers, both elected and appointed officials of the state.

Madam Anima said the theme also helped to set the tone for the nationwide discussion of weaknesses and hopeless which can be easily exploited by these wielding political power at the expense of the powerless. She disclosed that NCCE is conscious of the promise and challenge of democracy and is therefore calling on the citizens of the country to participate effectively in critically examining the prospects and defects in the country’s democratic development since 1992. This she said is to find a lasting solution to them to ensure good governance and socio-economic development in this country. The District Director advised the people to put aside their political differences and focus on how best to develop the country’s democratic system of governance.

Speaking at the durbar the Tano South District Chief Executive, Honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba said, Civic Education on democracy should enable the citizenry acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and disposition to deepen democratic culture and thus effectively consolidate Ghana’s democracy. Honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba revealed that one of the practices to ensure a good democratic system of governance. He said Ghana has been practicing this system of government since 1988

To sustain the country’s democracy, the District Chief Executive called on the government to support the National Commission for Civic Education to be able to carry out their functions effectively and efficiently. Questions ranging from individual rights, sanitation and ma

ny more where asked by the audience.