Wa, June 22, GNA - A local governance expert, Mr George Kyei-Baffour, has identified the overbearing role of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) as one of the challenges of decentralisation and local governance. He said executive interference in the disbursement of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and the re-centralisation of procurement at decentralised levels through the passage of the Public Procurement Act 663 are other challenges in the decentralisation process. Mr Kyei-Baffour, a former President of the National Association of Local Government Authority (NALAG), was speaking on the topic: "Empowering District Assemblies for Enhance Economic and Political Governance at a workshop in Wa, in the Upper West Region. It was organised by the Administrator of the DACF for the Parliamentary Press Corps.

Mr Kyei-Baffour said the processes involved in the confirmation of MMDCEs, the effects of regime change, which sometimes brings about revocation of the appointments of government appointees and undue interference of political party agents through seizures of assemblies properties were also areas hindering effective decentralisation. He said there was the need to deepen the role of Parliament to ensure that decentralisation was in line with the provisions of the constitution.

He said a review of all legislations inconsistent with the principles of decentralisation such as the Internal Audit Agency Act 658, Public Procurement Act 663 and the Local Service Act 656 was needed to make local governance effective. Mr Kyei-Baffour said the remuneration of assembly members should be looked at to motivate them and undue executive influence should be removed to make decentralisation more meaningful. Mr Joshua Nicol, Administrator of the Common Fund, said lack of effective monitoring of projects, absence of qualified engineers, quantity surveyors and other personnel to assist in estimates preparations and the misapplication of funds were some of the problems associated with the use of the Common Fund. 22 June 09