15-member Town and Area Councils inaugurated in Bongo

Bongo DCE, Alexis Ayamdor administering the oath of office

In a bid to strengthen and empower the existing of local government sub-structures, the Bongo District Assembly of the Upper East Region has officially inaugurated a 15-member body as Town and Area Councilors after passing an eligibility test on local governance.

The councilors composed of five elected assembly members and ten-unit committee members are tasked with the responsibility of keeping records of all rateable persons and properties within their jurisdiction while assisting authorized persons to collect revenues for the assembly.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the DCE for Bongo, Alexis Ayamdor said the reinforcement of the Town and Area Councils is to set the tone for popular participation in decision making and that participatory governance is the hallmark to improving efficiency in public services, thus making local governance more transparent and accountable.

By law, members of town and area councils are required to execute specific functions as stipulated in the legislative instrument including the opening and maintenance of bank accounts for the assembly.

They are also mandated to make proposals to the assembly for the levying and collection of special rates for projects and programs within their jurisdictions.

Administering the oath of office to officially induct the members, the DCE for Bongo, Alexis Ayamdor said the implementation of the Town and Area Councils, which are sub-structures of the assembly concept is of paramount importance because apart from supporting the assembly in its planning and budgeting processes, it will as well engage and demand accountability from duty bearers while performing other functions.

He, moreover acknowledged the complimentary role of the Town and Area Councils in the monitoring and supervision of ongoing projects undertaken by the assembly.

According to him, the effective performance of the town and area councils will go a long way to enhance the revenue inflows of the assembly since they are going to arrange revenue collection contracts with the assembly.

He however, asked the members to be selfless in the discharge of their duties and announced the assembly’s resolve to take through a compact training to serve as a guide to enable them live up to expectation.

The Bongo District Assembly has six area councils. They are Soe, Beo, Namoo, Balungu, Zorkor, and Valley zone area councils and one town councils which is the Bongo town council.

Since its existence, the sub-structures have not been functioning as expected due to some operational challenges.

The DCE mentioned some lapses identified in the implementation of the sub-structures and announced plans by the assembly to work towards surmounting those challenge.

Mr. Richard Akamah, chairman of the council is optimistic that with unity and one accord, the team was poised to function as expected.


GBC