National infrastructure plan in the offing

The government is presently drafting a national infrastructure plan with the objective of accelerating economic growth in the medium to long-term development of the country.

The plan will also focus on physical infrastructure facilities of national significance that have direct impact on critical development-oriented national socio-economic activities to promote productivity and enhance the living standards of Ghanaians.

Speaking at an orientation and training session in Accra, the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Dr Eric Oduro Osae, said the new plan, when developed, would complement the 40-year national development plan.

“We are presently developing a national infrastructure plan to support the 40-year national development plan, so very soon we will come to you (assembly officials) to collate views,” he said.

Currently, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) is collating views and inputs from Ghanaians of all strata to draft the 40-year national development plan which many development experts believe is the surest way to turn the country’s future around.

Public financial management bill

He said management of the country's public finances and the promotion of fiscal discipline were expected to be enhanced following the passage of the Public Financial Management Bill, 2016 by Parliament last week.

This means that all legislations on public financial management are to be structured into one law to enhance efficiency, revenue generation and expenditure management.

The new law repeals the Financial Administration Act of 2003 and its amendment and the Loans Act of 1970. 

The law seeks to regulate the financial management of the public sector within a macroeconomic and fiscal framework, as well as define the responsibilities of persons entrusted with the management and control of public funds, assets, liabilities and other resources. 

It also seeks to ensure that public funds are sustainable and consistent with the level of public debt and also makes provision for accounting and audit of public funds.

In the medium-term, the law is expected to bring about a more efficient, effective and economical use of the resources of the government and contribute to the achievement of national goals.

It will also spell out stiffer and more enforceable sanctions on erring officials both as a deterrent and preventive measure to safeguarding public finances – revenue generation and expenditure management.

Consolidated local government bill

Dr Osae also urged Parliament to pass the Consolidated Local Government Bill into law before the close of 2016.

The bill, which is expected to repeal the local government Act 462, when passed into law, would bring together all the various legislations on the local government system under one law.

The Dean said the new bill would help remove some of the contradictions in the present local government legislations.

“The new law among other things will bring the common fund law and local government service law under one umbrella in order to help remove the contradictions in some of the local government legislations,” he said.

 African type of democracy

He underscored the need for the country to adopt what he described as an “African type of democracy” instead of coping blindly from the western world that has over the years hinder the country’s development.

Article 240 section two (e) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that “to ensure accountability of local government authorities, people in particular local government areas shall, as far as practicable, be afforded the opportunity to participate effectively in their governance”.

Mr Osae said one of the best ways of promoting democracy and good governance was the involvement of citizens in development planning which begun with spatial planning.

“Governance is good when a state allocates and manages resources in ways that respond to collective problems and when it efficiently provides public goods and services of sufficient quality to its citizens,” he noted. 

Dr Osae said the citizenry participating in the governance system would promote good governance, transparency and reduces corruption in the country.

“It also makes government visible to citizens and reduced political alienation of citizens, as well as harnesses the use of indigenous knowledge and skills in development,” he added.

The Dean said when Ghanaians took part in active democracy, it would enhance the measurement of equity and efficiency in service delivery, availability of local information for effective policy formulation.

Orientation session  

A day’s orientation and training session was organised for assembly officials from the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly under the Action Voices programme.

The session was aimed at sensitising assembly officials to share relevant information with citizens to promote participation and local level democracy using innovative communications technology. 

The Executive Director of Action Voices, Mr Lord Fordjour, said his organisation was aimed at working to ensure that all voices of citizens were heard and considered in decision making.