Accra – Wednesday November 10, 2021: The Office of the Head of Local Government Service has organized an orientation programme for the 5th Local Government Service Council inaugurated on October 4, 2021. This was to enable Members apprise themselves with some issues considered critical for the performance of their duties especially those who were not part of the previous Council.
Opening the orientation session, the Council Chairman, Dr. David Wellington Essaw commended the Head of Service and his team for the timely conduct of the orientation and urged members to participate fully.
In a brief remark, the Head of Service expressed the warmest appreciation of the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) to the Chairman and Members of the Council for taking time off their busy schedules to participate in the orientation. He indicated that the appointment of the current Council came at a time when Assemblies have come under intense public scrutiny with some calling for a review of their mandates. He said it is therefore important for members to work together as a team to provide the much-needed leadership and direction to ensure the proper and effective performance of the functions of the Service.
The orientation was delivered through a combination of presentations and plenary sessions. The Chairman of the Public Services Commission, Dr. Janet Ampadu Fofie (Esq) gave an insightful presentation on governance in the public Services of Ghana. She touched on the legal frame work for governing boards, their responsibilities, roles, board meetings, corporate governance and its importance. She also shed light on public service corporate governance, its principles and challenges effective board functionalities.
The Chief Director of the OHLGS, Mr. James Oppong-Mensah on his part provided members with an overview of the Local Government Service. His presentation discussed the historical antecedents to the establishment of the LGS as well as its management structure. He highlighted the functions of the various levels of the Service (OHLGS, RCCs & MMDAs) and the reporting relationships & channel of communication.
Mr. George Laryea a Policy Analyst of the Inter-Ministerial Co-ordinating Committee on Decentralization (IMCCoD) presented the National Decentralization Policy and Strategy, 2020-2024 to Members. His presentation highlighted the roles of the various actors towards the achievement of the ideals of the national decentralization programme.
The Council Members expressed delight on the insightful presentations delivered by the respective facilitators at the end of the session.