Bolgatanga, Oct.17, GNA - The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Charles Bintim has stressed on the need for District Chief Executives to eschew negative practices such as corruption, amassing wealth, selfishness among others. He made the call on Monday in Bolgatanga when he addressed the three Northern Regional Ministers, all the Metropolitan and District Chief Executives at a one-day conference.

The purpose of the conference, according to Mr Bintim, was to brainstorm and fashion out pragmatic strategies that would equip and enhance the performance of Metropolitan and DCE of their individual areas.

He stated that there was the need for DCE to live beyond reproach to prove to critics that they were not involved in corruption, amassing of wealth and selfishness as being perceived. Mr Bintim expressed concern about the way and manner northerners usually appeal for food aid.

He charged the three Northern DCEs to fasion out mechanisms to ensure that poverty was eradicated in the regions, stressing that the New Patriotic Party had in place 47 northerners occupying top position in governance and charged them to find a way of contributing in the alleviation of poverty in the Northern parts of the country.

Mr Bintim implored the DCEs to use the little common resources available for the provision of good drinking water, roads and education judiciously.

He entreated the DCEs, not to solely rely on resources from the central government, saying they could generate revenue internally. He said the District Assemblies had not been able to achieve the mobilization of 40 per cent revenue expected from them and impressed upon them to redouble their efforts.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Boniface Gambila, who opened the conference called for conscientious team building on the part of all the Northern politicians and DCEs to ensure the success of the Local Government system in the area.