ILGS ORGANISES LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP FOR OBUASI MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
The Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) has organised a two-day capacity-building workshop for Assembly Members of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to strengthen their knowledge of local governance, leadership, legislative responsibilities and the functions of District Assemblies.
The workshop, which brought together both elected and government-appointed Assembly Members as well as officers of the Central Administration Unit of the Assembly, was aimed at enhancing participants’ understanding of the legal and institutional framework governing local government administration and equipping them with effective leadership skills for their respective roles.
The training focused on key areas including the Local Governance Act, decentralisation, corporate governance, oversight responsibilities, representative and deliberative functions of Assembly Members, procedures of the Assembly, the making and enforcement of by-laws, executive mandates of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), discretionary powers, leadership and community mobilisation, and leadership change-making projects.
Speaking to participants, Mr Joseph Antwi, Former Head of the Fiscal Decentralisation Unit at the Ministry of Finance, described a well-equipped Assembly Member as an important asset for local development.
He expressed optimism that the training would achieve its objective of enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of Assembly Members in discharging their responsibilities.
Mr Antwi urged the Members to make a conscious effort to study the Local Governance Act and other relevant legislative instruments governing local government administration.
He explained that a sound understanding of the law would enable Assembly Members to contribute more effectively to deliberations, debates and decision-making processes within the Assembly.
He encouraged the Members to see their role beyond attending Assembly meetings and voting on issues, stressing the importance of understanding their legislative, representative, deliberative and oversight responsibilities.
Addressing the workshop, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Obuasi, Faustilove Appiah Kannin, encouraged Assembly Members to take full advantage of the training to strengthen their capacity and improve their performance.
She noted that the Assembly had recognised the importance of continuous capacity development and had undertaken training programmes for both Assembly Members and Unit Committee Members since the beginning of the year across all 19 Electoral Areas in the municipality.
According to the MCE, continuous training was necessary to ensure that local representatives were adequately equipped to understand emerging governance challenges and respond effectively to the needs of their constituents.
Madam Faustilove expressed confidence that the knowledge acquired through the workshop would enhance the work of Assembly Members and ultimately contribute to improved development outcomes for the Obuasi Municipality.
She expressed appreciation to the Institute of Local Government Studies for organising the programme and acknowledged the government’s efforts towards strengthening decentralisation and local governance in the country.
The two-day workshop covered a broad range of subjects designed to strengthen the institutional and leadership capacity of participants: Decentralisation and Local Government Law; Corporate Governance and Oversight Responsibilities; Representative Functions of Assembly Members; Deliberative Functions and Assembly Procedures; Making and Enforcement of By-laws; Executive Mandates of MMDAs and Discretionary Powers; Leadership and Community Mobilisation; and Leadership Change-Making Projects.
The sessions were designed to provide participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical approaches to performing their roles effectively at the local level.
The workshop was facilitated by professionals with extensive experience in public administration, local government and fiscal decentralisation.
The facilitators included Mr Joseph Antwi, Former Head of the Fiscal Decentralisation Unit at the Ministry of Finance; Mr Akuamoah Boateng, Former Metropolitan Coordinating Director of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA); and Ms Ivy Adorboe, Programmes Administrator, ILGS.
The facilitators engaged participants through presentations and discussions on the legal, administrative and leadership dimensions of local governance.
The programme forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the capacity of local government actors and improve the effectiveness of decentralised governance in Ghana.
Participants were encouraged to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to their respective roles and contribute meaningfully to deliberations, community development and effective oversight within the Obuasi Municipal Assembly.
Ernest Kofi Offen, ISD
Obuasi
