Accra, June 8, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills, has warned newly appointed Metropolitan, Municipal ad District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), that they had no monopoly over their positions and he would not hesitate to remove them from office if they abused it. He said their appointments were neither a reward nor a compensation from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but it was because of their proven capabilities.

President Mills urged the MMDCEs to work diligently to meet the high expectations of the people. He was speaking at the opening a five day-day orientation course for more than 170 MMDCEs, at the Institute of Local Government Studies, in Accra on Monday.

The course, on the theme "Chief Executives as Agents in Participatory Local Development" was to prepare the Executives to assume the mantle of their office and equip them with the basic rudiments of effective local government administration. President Mills re-echoed his message of accountability and modesty to political appointees, and urged them to use the resources of the Assemblies to the benefit of the local communities. He reminded the Chief Executives that the uneasy task of their nomination, confirmation and subsequent appointment should send a clear message of the weight and enormity of the responsibility and expectation of them.

The President said they were the focal point of contact between the people at the local government level and the Central Government. He asked the appointees to use resources at the local level to deliver promises made to ensure better lives, improvement of in health services, water and electricity as well as other social and economic services to bear excellent testimonies of their performance. President Mills urged the Chief Executives to avoid creating a barrier between them and their communities, but to adopt a consultative approach and open their doors for the voices of the people to be heard throughout the year.

He said "The people's voices should not be sought only at the end of the year. There must be enough consultations at all times". President Mills called on the MMDCEs to exhibit true leadership skills, with determination, temperance and discretion as their watchwords; and be sensitive to the needs of the people. He said they must equally be modest in their dealings, and creative and innovative and be ready to subject themselves to public scrutiny. In order to be abreast with the times, President Mills advised the appointees to constantly upgrade themselves. He stressed modesty in governance and advised the MMDCEs to "remember where they had come from before their appointment", and work diligently to deepen local Government's objective of intensifying local government development. 8 June 09