Regional News of Saturday, 23 November 2013

Source: GNA

Local gov't minister disappointed with NALAG

Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has expressed disappointment in the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG).

The disappointment was as a result of NALAG's failure to elect a President, Vice President, Women Caucus and two trustee members as executives to run the affairs of the Association, during an annual conference last week.

Mr Oppong-Fosu made this known when a four-member interim executives of NALAG led by Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Sherif, General Secretary, called on him at his office in Accra on Friday.

He said NALAG is an independent body and is capable of managing its own affairs by the powers invested in its leadership.

He asked them to put measures in place to ensure that leadership of the association are well chosen.

Mr Oppong-Fosu said Ghana has the responsibility of taking decentralisation to a higher level in Africa.

He said the Commonwealth Local Government Forum is to establish an office in Ghana.

He said the United Nations has recognised Ghana’s role in urban development.

Mr Oppong-Fosu said a delegation from Sierra Leone, who came to witness the NALAG election and put into practice, has described the Association as one of the best in the West African sub-region.

Alhaji Sherif said the association has sent a letter to the Electoral Commission to fix a new date for another conference to elect the national leaders.

He said the problem which was internally generated has been dealt with.