Apam (C/R), Nov. 5, GNA - The National Association of Local Authorities, Ghana (NALAG) is to set up offices in all the 10 regions of Ghana and appoint Desk Officers for the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. The move is aimed at making NALAG accessible to the people. Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, newly elected President of the association made this known to newsmen at Apam in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region, where he outlined his policies and programmes on Tuesday. He said it was not appropriate for the association, which was the back-bone for the decentralisation policy to have an office only in Accra. Mr Aidoo-Mensah, a former Chief Accountant of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and now Gomoa West District Chief Executive (DCE), was elected during a conference of the association in Kumasi last week.

He defeated Mr Mohamed Duku, DCE for Asunafo North, his hottest contestant by 235 votes to 199 to succeed Mr Mawutor Goh, former Ho Municipal Chief Executive. Until his appointment as DCE, Mr Aidoo-Mensah, was the assembly member for Mamfam Electoral Area at Apam. He said he would make capacity building of assembly members a top priority to make them responsive to the developmental needs of the people. He said the capacity building process would be centred on how to generate resources from outside the District Assemblies' Common Fund and other government support. Mr Aidoo-Mensah said members of the assembly should be able to write proposals to attract donor funding for some projects and also facilitate sister-city relationship. The NALAG President praised former President Jerry John Rawlings for introducing the decentralisation policy and appealed to Ghanaians to help to make it the focal point for development. He urged the government to make the assemblies vibrant by instituting some incentive packages including salaries for members. He said the package would attract high level personnel to the assemblies to facilitate the initiation and execution of projects. Mr Aidoo-Mensah appealed to the government to pay ex-gratia awards to assembly members from the consolidated fund since their end-of-service reward was scanty.

He assured assembly members that his administration would pursue the initiative of his predecessors to acquire motor bikes for them to ensure easy access to their electoral areas. He said he would also ensure the completion of the office complex of the association which was under construction at Okponglo in Accra. Mr Aidoo-Mensah said he would use dialogue and consultation as leadership tools and remain firm in matters of principle. He said NALAG: "Shall not fear to negotiate but shall not negotiate out of fear."