The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohamme Muniru, has expressed worry about the frequent absence of the metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives from their respective offices and admonished them to refrain from the practice or face the consequences of their actions.

He noted that most of them were always in Tamale, the regional capital, during working days with the excuse of attending meetings and workshops, while work awaited them in their various offices.

“Those of you who are quick to run away from your people with the excuse that the electorate are worrying you will have yourselves to be blame. You are in office because of the people, so you ought to have time and patience for them,” the minister warned.

The Regional Minister was speaking at a mid-year review meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the region in Tamale.

Alhaji Muniru condemned the practice of open defecation in some of the districts in the Northern Region.

He said almost 70 per cent of the people in the region practised open defecation, including the metropolis and municipalities, was completely unacceptable and slated that a very strong action has needed to change the situation.

Alhaji Muniru said the MMDAs should be very decisive in taking relevant to actions to implement bye-laws on the environment and every aspect of development, adding that education, health, water and sanitation be their priority.

He said the MMDAs should uphold accountability through the judicious use of resources since was the only way the people would appreciate their effort, and be prepared to assist them to mobilize their local resources.

Alhaji Muniru said MMDAs were in existence basically to plan and execute programmes that would address the various developmental challenges and make life better for people, stressing that, they were quite high and should they work hard to meet the challenges and expectations of the people.