MMDAs challenged to serve as advocates in championing the global SDG efforts

Mrs Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, NALAG General  Secretary

Mr Moses Aduk-Pam (left), Mr George Abevalim (Middle) and Alexis Ayamdor (Right)

The General Secretary of the National Association of Local Authorities, NALAG, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has challenged the various MMDAs to serve as effective advocates in championing the cause of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, adopted by world leaders at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September last year.

She said global effort at achieving the SDG target will largely depend on the commitment of world leaders, and will requires the support of state institutions like the MMDAs in the realisation of the transformative global development agenda.

Mrs. Momo Lartey said with the appointment of President Mahama as one of the co-chairs of the SDG, MMDAs are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that that they work assiduously to achieve as many goals as possible to compliment the President effort.

Mrs. Momo Lartey made the call at the just ended regional delegate conference of NALAG held in Bolgatanga.

Radio Ghana’s Isaac Asare reports that the Regional Delegate Conference of NALAG attended by heads of various institutions including MMDCEs and assembly members was used to elect a regional representative who will add up to other 16 officers to be elected at its upcoming Biennial National Delegate Conference to be held in Sunyani this year.

The election of the regional representative will constitute the National Executive Council of the association for a two-year term.

Per article 19 clause (1) of the NALAG constitution, regional delegate conferences shall be held at least once each year.

However, in 2014, NALAG was confronted with inadequate resources to organise its extra-ordinary national delegate conference and the NALAG week celebration, though the two events were later held in June and September last year.

Subsequently, this year’s conference had delayed as a result of distortions in the local government calendar, more especially the postponement of the District Level Elections, DLE, as well as the late inauguration and orientation for assembly members.

In a statement read on behalf of the NALAG President, a Senior Administrative Officer of NALAG, Mathias Dorglo, said the progress of the association had been confronted with myriad of challenges, therefore the regional conference was not only meant to elect a regional representative but also to brief members on the achievements and challenges of the outgoing executives.

He said the meeting was also intended to update members on the upcoming national delegate conference and to solicit views from participants on pertinent issues bordering the association for redress.

According to him, the creation of new database of the MMDAs and the opening of secretariats at the regional levels, were key on the agenda of NALAG.

Moreover, special attention had been given to the strengthening of working relation between NALAG and its international partners with focus on developing a new strategic business plan for the association.

Mr. Dorglo said NALAG was determined to become a self-financing association and called on members to work towards achieving the set goal.

The newly elected General Secretary of NALAG, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said with the support of NALAG members, her office was poised to dealing with all emerging issues which are in the best interest of the association.

She however, seized the opportunity to challenge all MMDAs to join the fight against extreme poverty and climate change by working to complement the global effort at achieving SDGs.

The outgoing Upper East Regional Minister, James Zuuga Tiigah, for his part, challenged NALAG to work in resolving the practice phenomenon where assembly members constantly refuse to elect Presiding Members, (PM). based on obvious reasons.

He described the phenomenon as worrying because resources are wasted in organising as many as three or more meetings to elect a PM.

During the election of a regional representative, the DCE for Bongo, Alexis Ayamdor won against the incumbent, Mr. Moses Aduk-Pam with 47 out of 63 votes cast.

The PM for the Builsa North District Assembly, George Abavelim was second with 11 votes while Mr. Aduk-Pam had only 5 votes.

Mr. Ayamdor in his victory speech, pledged an open door policy and said his tenure will see to the flow of information through the reactivation of links in terms of communication.

He however, urged NALAG members to support him move the association to become a force to reckon with.

GBC                                                      

Story by Isaac Asare