Agona Nkwanta (W/R), Aug. 3, GNA - Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, has said that he would not tolerate any power struggle or petty squabbles among District Chief Executives (DCEs) and Members of Parliament (MP). He said these infightings did not only retard the development agenda of the districts but also reduced productivity and created enmity among the people, resulting in communal violence and waste of human and material resources.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng, who was interacting with Members and Staff of Ahanta West District Assembly at Agona Nkwanta on Wednesday, warned that any DCE or public office holder of a decentralised government department, who refused to work as a member of a team to improve the status of the community, would be sanctioned or dismissed. "Public office is meant to humble people to serve their communities and they should be prepared to serve their term without wrangling," he stated and called on workers of the various district assemblies to be united and committed to their respective duties.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng said efforts were underway to motivate outgoing assembly members to generate and sustain the interest of the people in the District Assembly Concept.

He said the structure of Unit Committees would soon be reviewed to scale down the number of members of area councils. He urged women to assert themselves and participate in the forthcoming District Level Elections, saying: "Every individual must make personal interest and motivation an important factor in the quest for high public office."

He said the positive aspects of Ghanaian traditions should be adopted and fused into the day-to-day administration of the various districts and in conflict resolution, adding that efforts were underway to integrate chieftaincy into the decentralization programme.