Let's empower Unit Committee members- Deputy Minister designate

The Deputy Minister designate for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Aquinas Quansah has said it was time to empower Unit Committee members at the local assembly, to enable them perform better in the discharge of their duties in local governance.

“It is about time we train the people at the local level, especially those at the Unit Committee. By so doing, they will perform better.”

Mr. Quansah made this remark yesterday, when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting. Article 78 of the Constitution of Ghana empowers the President to appoint Ministers of State with the prior approval of Parliament.

Article 78 (1) states that “ Ministers of State shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of Parliament, from among members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected as members of Parliament, except that the majority of Ministers of State shall be appointed from among members of Parliament.

Unit Committee members have in the eyes of the public being perceived not to be performing any function. This perception necessitated the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Mrs. Akosua Frema Opare-Osei to ask the deputy Minister designate on how he will liaise with the sector Minister to use the Unit Committee as a tool for effective development.

Responding to the question, Mr. Quansah said when the Unit Committee is given equal attention as the Assembly members, he had no doubt that they will perform better.

“Mr. Chairman, it is time the MMDCEs seriously interact with the Unit Committees to enable them feel part of local governance. The way we deal with our Assembly members, we should do same to the Unit Committee members. We have to swear them into office just like we do the Assembly members,” he noted.

Reacting to how he will deal with the frosty relations between DCEs and MPs, the deputy Minister designate said he will collaborate with his sector Minister to bring the two on board, in a dialogue whenever there was a problem.
As to whether District Assembly election should be organized on partisan basis, Mr. Quansah said he totally disagree to that proposal. He maintained that the District Assembly election should be organized on non-partisan basis.

Also appearing at the Appointments Committee for vetting was Emelia Arthur, Deputy Minister designate for Western Region, and Ernest Attuquaye Armah, Deputy Minister for Communications.
Smart looking Emelia Arthur, after taking her oath, looked uncomfortable in her seat.

Seated at her right hand side, to lend their support to her were the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo and the Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe. The two couldn’t afford coaching their colleague to be brief, when responding to questions from the members of the Appointments Committee.

Responding to a question from the MP for Amenfi East, Joseph Boahen Aidoo on how she will deal with challenges of refugees from neighboring La Cote d’Ivoire, Ms. Arthur said the country already is faced with the provision of space for the refugees, but that not withstanding, “in the spirit of good neighbourliness, it is important Ghana provides space for the Ivorian refugees coming into the country.”

According to her, the Western Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with the UNHR and NADMO has programs in place to address the issue.

Ms. Arthur, a staunch Nkrumaist, believes that when there is equal distribution of national resources, the issue of party foot soldiers agitation would be solved.

“RCC has the responsibility for ensuring that all monies that come from the Central Government are used for the benefit of the people. We will do our best by getting the district assemblies to invest in places that will create jobs,” she said.

The Deputy Minister designate for Communications, Ernest Attuquaye Armah had a field day as he was spared from probing questions from the Appointments Committee. He lasted for seventeen minutes before the Committee.

However, he had some problems with his Curriculum Vitae. He was ordered by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Edward Doe Adjaho to withdraw his CV and furnish the Committee with the amended version before the Committee would consider his approval.