The Head of Local Government Service, Professor Lord Mensah, has urged Chief Directors of Regional Coordinating Councils to embrace innovation and leverage digital tools and artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, transparency and service delivery across the country.
"In a time of rapid technological change, political complexity, and evolving citizen expectations, leadership must be adaptive, ethical, and results-oriented. You must embody the values of professionalism, neutrality and accountability as well," he stated.
He told them that leadership at their level was not simply about administration but vision, integrity and courage, and said they were called to inspire confidence, mobilise resources and ensure that policies translate into tangible outcomes for Ghanaians.
Professor Mensah was delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of a three-day orientation programme for Chief Directors of Regional Coordinating Councils in Kumasi. The workshop is being held under the theme: "Strengthening capacity for effective regional administration."
He stated that strategic and ethical leadership was not merely compliance with rules but rather commitment to integrity, accountability, transparency and service above self, and said citizens expected leaders whose conduct inspires trust and whose decisions consistently reflect public interest.
"The enduring strength of our institutions rests heavily on the ethical standards exemplified by those entrusted with leadership. Effective leadership increasingly depends upon emotional intelligence, social intelligence, strategic thinking, resilience, and adaptability," he said.
Champions of execution excellence
Professor Mensah also asked the Chief Directors to be champions of execution excellence and to cultivate a culture where planning is evidence-based, implementation is disciplined, monitoring is continuous, and results rather than activities measure performance.
"We must move beyond reporting inputs and outputs to demonstrating meaningful outcomes and sustainable impact. You must work effectively to transform public administration at the regional level," he said.
"Let us become transformational leaders who not only administer institutions but also inspire change, strengthen public confidence and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the government's development priorities," he added.
Decentralisation system
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, said Ghana's decentralisation system would succeed not only because of good policies but due to the availability of competent, ethical and innovative public servants prepared to lead with integrity.
"Our citizens expect responsive, effective service delivery, accountability and measurable improvement in their lives. These expectations place a great responsibility on us all," he said.
"The work entrusted to you as Chief Directors will influence policies, strengthen institutions and ultimately better the lot of the millions of people that you serve. Be mindful of this at all times and work towards achieving it," he added.
New standard
The Asafohene/Akwamuhene, Akyamfuor Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, who chaired the function, said the use of intelligent software applications and systems must become the new standard for assemblies for recording, reporting and monitoring.
"Do not leave these intelligent systems to consultants but rather own them to enhance your operations. Additionally, you must train your staff and make them the heartbeat of your administration," he said.
He told the participants that their capacity would not be measured in registers but in the borehole drilled, classroom roof repaired and clinic provided, saying, "when citizens see their taxes at work, the covenant between the leader and the led is restored."
Touching on illegal mining and its effects on water bodies, he indicated that enforcement alone would not succeed and therefore called on the government to come up with a plan and partner traditional leaders to deal with the menace.
