Local Gov't Expert proposes at least first degree or its equivalent qualification for MMDCEs'

A local government expert, Dr. Oduro Osae has proposed that persons appointed as Chief Executive Officers for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, MMDAs, should have at least a minimum qualification of a first degree or its equivalent. 

He contended that in real situations, assemblies are not able to mobilise and meet their targeted revenue because their Chief Executives lack the needed experience to better manage and utilise funds meant for their assemblies. 

Dr. Osae further argued that under the Local Government Act, assemblies are considered as corporate entities and should therefore be managed as a business. 

This however means that if a person is appointed as DCEs without the requisite knowledge and expertise, he is likely to be outsmarted by technical officers within the assembly.   

Speaking to Radio Ghana, Dr Osae further explained that looking at the magnitude of funds or resources that goes into the local government activities, it was crucial to have people that are business minded with strong academic background  to be able to properly steer the affairs of the assembly. 

He said those are already occupying such positions should have their capacities built. 

Dr. Osae made the call on the sidelines of a day’s orientation seminar for members of the newly constituted Audit Committee of MMDAs in Bolgatanga. 

The meeting organised by the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy, CLGA, in collaboration with the Internal Audit Agency, IAA, was intended to school members on the operations of the MMDAs and the new requirements of the Public Financial Management, PFM, Act, Act 921 of 2016. 

The Act now replaces the Audit Implementation Committee, ARIC, systems with an Audit Committee after receiving parliamentary approval. 

The meeting highlighted a number of issues bordering on the new act and what the various assemblies stand to gain with regards to its successful implementation. 

Dr. Duro Osae who doubles as the Dean of Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government Studies took participants through the Local Government Administration and Management in Ghana as well as the PFM Act and the business of the MMDAs. 

Discussion were held under the functions, roles and responsibilities of Audit Committees and the 2017 guidelines. 

During a presentation, Dr Osae advocated a review of the constitution Local Government Act for salaries of DCEs to be charged against the Internally Generated Fund, IGF of the assemblies instead of the Consolidated Fund. 

He said when this is done, MMDCEs will be encouraged to work out strategies to increase their revenue mobilisation. 

Report by GBCs Isaac Asare 

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