BONGO TOWN AND AREA COUNCILS INAUGURATED 1st March, 2016


Efforts to boost local governance and participatory democracy have been given a push in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region with the inauguration of the Bongo Town Council and six other Area Councils including the Soe, Zorkor, Valley Zone, Namoo, Beo and Balungu area councils.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Bongo District Chief Executive [DCE] Mr. Alexis Ayamdor Adugdaa noted that the inauguration and operationalisation of the Town and Area Councils formed a critical part of Ghana’s governance structure as they bring democracy to the doorstep of local communities.

The DCE who swore into office members of the Bongo Town Council by administering the oath of office, stated that these local governance sub-structures go a long way to enhance the work of various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the areas of revenue mobilisation, budget planning, project monitoring and protection of the Assemblies’ property within their jurisdiction as well as make proposals to the Assemblies for the levying and collection of special rates and levies.

Mr. Adugdaa admitted that district’s town and area councils had been dysfunctional for some time and pledged that Management of the Assembly had resolved to adequately resource these sub-structures with the requisite logistics and supporting staff in order for them to function effectively. He added that the Bongo Town Council offices and other area council office facilities that were in bad shape will be renovated and furnished.

According to him, the Assembly had undertaken to let some of its revenue collection responsibilities to these sub-structures such that upon collection, they would retain a percentage of the revenues for their office running and other mandatory activities while rendering account to the Assembly. He disclosed that for a start, some staff of decentralised such as NADMO, Environmental Health Unit and Community/Social Welfare departments would be deployed as secretaries to the various town and area councils.

He explained that the composition of the councils is made up of not less than 10 and not more than 15 members consisting of both elected Assembly Members and Unit Committee Members within the jurisdiction of the respective council. A chairman is then elected from among the council’s own membership to lead councilors and superintend over meetings.

Bongo Town Council Chairman, Richard Akamah promised that he and fellow councillors will operate strictly in line with the standing orders for urban, zonal, town and area councils as provided for by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. He revealed that he held the chairmanship position for the same Council in 2006 and that he and other members were able to among other things construct a Kindergarten in the Kunkua Electoral Area through funding sourced from an NGO name CRBRDP.

A Principal Internal Auditor at the Bongo District Assembly, Mr. Suleman Ali who later took the councilors through training on their core functions and duties stated that a council is mandated to hold at least four meetings every quarter in a year. He added that a council’s meeting shall not be held outside its area of jurisdiction. Meanwhile apart from the chairman who has the powers to sanction meetings, a one-third majority of council members can also cause a meeting to be held and such a meeting shall be deemed legal.

  

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