Accra, Oct 24, GNA- Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment on Friday cut sod for the construction of an office complex for the Local Government Service to enhance its capacity and efficiency.

The 400,000 Ghana cedis project would be financed by the Danish government. Mr Darko explained that the Service was not operating with the required human resource, due to its infrastructure constraint, saying it was working with only 20 employees instead of staff strength of about 70.

The project, he said would therefore fast-track the staffing process of the Service with the requisite and full complement of officers to fill all positions. He said the office complex would also help the Service to accelerate local service delivery, since it was the lead national machinery established in 2004, to drive decentralisation process forward.

Mr Darko further reiterated government's commitment to decentralisation and expressed appreciation to the Danish government for its support to Ghana. He also entreated the contractors and officers assigned for the construction to expedite action and exhibit good workmanship in order to meet deadlines and specifications to satisfaction. Danish Ambassador, Stig Barlyng, explained that government and the Danish Embassy came out with the Local Service Delivery and Governance Programme to ensure improved service delivery at the national, regional and levels. "The strategy of the programme was to cater for a smooth transition from earmarked sector funding into supporting the District Development Fund as a nationwide funding mechanism for local service delivery", he added.

He urged the Service to work at making the project a success, considering that the donors were initially reluctant to provide the funds because the concept was new. Nana Rex Owusu-Ansah, Acting Head of the Service said the Service had come a long since its inception and thanked the Minister for being supportive, saying; "You will leave behind a legacy that you would be remembered for." He also expressed appreciation to the Danish government for support and expressed the hope that when the Service was fully operational, it would work with over 30,000 civil servants to improve local governance in the country. Major Abu Baba Safianu Baaba (RTD) who represented the Chairman of the Local Government Service Council also pledged the Service would put the support to good use and called for capacity building for staff of the Council.