Moves to improve efficiency in local government services

Directors of the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) and Regional Co-ordinating Directors (RCDs) have affirmed their commitment to intensify their supervisory roles to improve efficiency in the administration of the local government service.

Speaking separately at the end of a three-day retreat for them in Kumasi, the directors noted that improved efficiency in local governance was key to the success of the local government service.

The retreat was to review mechanism of the service, take stock of last year’s performance and deliberate on issues of local governance and decentralisation.

It was also held to share ideas, experiences and chart a new course for the advancement of the service as a whole. 

This year’s retreat was an opportunity for the new Head of Service, Dr Nana Ato Arthur, to officially familiarise himself with the RCDs and inform them of his vision for the service.

Organisational goals

The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, commended the service for instituting a Performance Management System (PMS) which enables managers and staff of the service to plan towards the achievement of organisational goals for the service.

She urged the managers to identify skill gaps and model capacity-building programmes to ensure the success of the PMS. 

Hajia Mahama asked RCDs and directors of OHLGS to give the head of service the support and co-operation needed to succeed.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi, Mr Osei Assibey, who spoke on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Minister, urged RCDs to remain committed to the government in implementing its policies. 

He commended RCDs for their hard work and commitment and encouraged them to continue to motivate and inspire their subordinates to move along with the government in its quest to accelerate the pace of development in the country. 

New head

Dr Arthur expressed appreciation to all RCDs and directors of OHLGS for their unflinching support in bringing the LGS to its current state. 

He charged RCDs and directors to exhibit the highest form of work ethics and work with utmost dedication and commitment for other staff to emulate, while ensuring they lived up to the service’s motto of Decentralisation, Democracy and Development. 

He asked them to avoid excessive bureaucracy in the discharge of their duties.

Dr Ato Arthur said the Capacity Building Framework (CBF) developed by the LGS would be adhered to religiously in its implementation to cater for capacity-building needs of staff at the national, regional and district levels. 

He echoed his plan to ensure that the Digital Mapping System was embraced by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to improve revenue mobilisation and management. 

Dr Ato Arthur promised to frequently engage RCDs on development within the service and assured that the OHLGS would continue to provide the necessary technical support to facilitate monitoring and coordinating of roles. 

He also made known to them his vision for the service, which was encapsulated in five key thematic areas – ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of RCCs and MMDAs; proper fundamentals put in place to ensure smooth elections of chief executive for assemblies; strategically positioning MMDAs for the implementation of the One-District-One-Factory programme; empowering MMDAs on best practices in administration, development planning and management; and Improved revenue through workable information and communications technology (ICT) units in the MMDAs.

The RCD for the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Felix Chahaah, on behalf of the RCDs, expressed gratitude to the head of service for the opportunity given them, saying: ‘’The knowledge acquired at the 2017 retreat will go a long way to build consensus for development.’’