The Upper West Regional Youth Parliament, in collaboration with Save Ghana, has submitted a petition to the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), calling for immediate action to facilitate the election of presiding members for the Wa Municipal, Sissala East Municipal, and Wa West District Assemblies.

The petition was presented on Friday, September 6, 2024, and was received by Abubakar Musah, Director of Administration at the RCC, on behalf of the Upper West Regional Minister and chairperson of the RCC, Stephen Yakubu.

The petition, which was read by the Speaker of the Youth Parliament, James Baba Anabiga, highlighted the critical governance challenges facing the three assemblies due to their inability to elect presiding members.

According to the Youth Parliament, for over six months, since the newly elected assembly members were sworn in February 2024, the assemblies have been without duly elected presiding members, creating a leadership vacuum that severely affects the effective functioning of the assemblies.

It stated that, as required by Section 17(1-3) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), a Presiding Member, elected by at least a two-thirds majority of all members, is responsible for convening and presiding over assembly sessions and thus, the absence of these presiding members has impeded decision-making processes, delayed development projects, and undermined accountability and transparency.

"The failure to elect presiding members jeopardizes the fundamental purpose of local governance, which is to bring government closer to the people and ensure accountability in the administration of local affairs," the petition added.

The Youth Parliament warned that the ongoing delay in electing presiding members could result in severe consequences, including the potential reduction or suspension of the assemblies' share of the District Development Facility (DDF) which is vital for financing development projects and delivering essential services to communities.

“The absence of presiding members has severely hindered the ability of the affected Assemblies to attract support, collaboration, and partnerships in terms of social intervention projects, technical expertise, grants, and funding opportunities from NGOs and development partners,” parts of the statement read.

It added that the absence of regular meetings creates a fertile ground for corruption and non-compliance with statutory mandates and poses a “harbinger of no checks and balances and hence place accountability at bay, a situation in which the public resources might be mismanaged, misappropriated, or even siphoned away.”

To address the situation, the petition appeals to the regional minister to exercise his authority to convene a dialogue session with the assembly members to understand the underlying issues preventing the election of presiding members, mediate disputes, and build consensus among the members to break the deadlock.

“We have confidence in the leadership of the Regional Minister and believe that your timely intervention will pave the way for the election of presiding members, allowing the assemblies to function properly and effectively to meet the interests and expectations of the people,” said Mr. Anabiga.

Mr. Musah, upon receiving the petition, said the regional minister and the RCC would take immediate action to ensure the presiding members are elected within the “shortest possible time.”

“The issues you have raised regarding the election of Presiding Members are germane and for that matter, the Honorable Regional Minister will engage with these Assemblies and make sure that the Presiding Members are duly elected."

“The process has begun since he assumed office as Regional Minster and I am sure within the shortest possible time, he will engage these District Assemblies and get the Presiding Members duly elected,” he said.