Saltpond (C/R), Jan. 25, GNA- The Government has set up District Development Fund to support metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to enable them accomplish their development programmes. This notwithstanding, only assemblies that are performing creditably will directly access the fund for development projects while non-performing assemblies will be assisted with the fund to build the capacity of members, to enable such administrative bodies also make use of the support.

Mr Michael Kobina Essandoh, Central Regional Co-ordinating Director, announced these at a three-day orientation course, organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment for members of the Mfantseman District Assembly, at Saltpond on Tuesday. The Regional Co-ordinating Director urged Ghanaians to develop the culture of maintenance to ensure long lifespan for development projects. Mr Essandoh also urged assemblies to improve their revenue collection strategies to mobilise enough funds for development, and cautioned that the district assembly common fund should not be a substitute for internally generated money.

He asked the assembly members to be role models in their communities and to initiate projects that would improve the standards of living of the people.

Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, Mfantseman District Chief Executive, urged the members to take the course seriously so that they could acquire knowledge and skills needed for the effective management of their areas.

Mr George Holdbrook, Mr F.K. Appiah and Mr Nuamah Hagan, resource persons, took the participants through the following subjects: Ghanaian local government System, the role of assembly members in revenue generation and the assembly as a planning and budgeting entity. The orientation formed part of a nationwide exercise organised by the Ministry for all assemblies, in fulfillment of Article 20 section 2 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

The provision states that "Measures should be taken to enhance the capacity of local government authorities to plan, initiate, co-ordinate, manage and execute policies in respect of matters affecting the local people."