Cape Coast, May 23, GNA - The Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on Monday said they were evolving measures to make assembly members focal points for rural development. Consequently the ILGS is organizing series of orientation workshops to equip the assembly members with the right skills, attitude and knowledge to effectively implement government policies and also initiate and implement developmental projects in their respective communities. Mr Simone Bokor, Coordinator of ILGS, announced this when he opened one of such workshops on Monday for 45 assembly members in the Cape Coast Metropolis. It was aimed at exposing assembly members to the ever changing structure of local government to enable them to work more effectively. Topics to be treated at the two-day workshop are revenue mobilization, participation and accountability at the local level and roles and responsibilities of assembly members.

Mr Bokor reminded them that as local government agents they had an upper hand in lobbying for equitable development in their areas. He indicated that well equipped and knowledgeable assembly members would be indispensable tools in the decentralization process hence they should make the process meaningful by being abreast with the local government Act to enable them to meet the challenges associated with their work. Mr Anthony Egyir Aikins, Mayor of Cape Coast, commended the ILGS for the initiative and said the workshop would aid the smooth transition of assembly members into their new leadership roles. He expressed the hope that more of such workshops would be organized to help strengthen the administrative and management systems of the metropolis. The mayor said in an effort to improve living conditions of the people in the metropolis, the assembly had put in place some interventions like the provision of social and economic infrastructure as well as training programmes to create jobs and sustain the livelihood of people to help reduce poverty. He entreated assembly members to be proactive and committed to facilitate the "Better Ghana Agenda" while eschewing partisan politics within the assembly.