Inauguration of the Keta Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Energy and representative of the President, emphasized the importance of assembly members acquainting themselves with relevant laws on local governance. The minister highlighted that such knowledge is crucial to avoid conflicts and enable assembly members to execute their duties and responsibilities effectively without interfering with the activities of Chiefs, opinion leaders, religious figures, and other stakeholders.

Dr. Prempeh expressed the government’s commitment to building a capacity leadership environment and announced plans to retool the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) to better equip assembly members across the country. The Ministry of Local Governance, Decentralization, and Rural Development (MLGDRD), in collaboration with ILGS, will conduct orientation and training sessions in the coming weeks to help assembly members understand their roles and responsibilities.

The minister pointed out that the MLGDRD has formulated various policies contributing to the national agenda, including the national decentralization policy and strategy, rural and urban development policies, and action plans. Addressing challenges related to unplanned development, Dr. Prempeh mentioned upcoming consultative meetings with ILGS and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority to inform the public about guidelines for planning and development.

He reminded assembly members of the importance of selfless devotion, accountability, and the ability to articulate the needs of the people to guide the district development agenda and improve the quality of livelihoods. Emphasizing the significance of good governance, Dr. Prempeh stressed the active participation of citizens in the development process, encouraging assembly members to create platforms such as town hall meetings and community durbars.

The minister also highlighted government efforts to enhance the mobilization of Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Dr. Prempeh appealed to the public to cooperate with assembly members for the overall development of their respective communities.

In a surprising turn of events, the swearing-in ceremony concluded without the election of a presiding member, as candidates failed to secure the required two-thirds majority votes. The development sets the stage for further deliberations and considerations in the days to come.