Is NALAG vibrant or dead?

Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, would host the 18th national delegates conference of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana ( NALAG) from  today.

The theme for the biennial conference is "Energising Local Economies: Partnerships for Accelerated Development at the Local level".

However,  since an invitation letter received from the national secretariat of NALAG by the Daily Graphic in Sunyani, much has not been heard about the association which is to partner the government to promote the concept of decentralisation and local governance in the country in recent times.

One would have expected the leadership of the association to raise concerns about the recent agitations  over the appointment and confirmation of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) across the country but NALAG went dead silent on the issue.

Another issue which the leadership of NALAG could talk about and offer suggestions was the recent strike by Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) but NALAG has  again been dead silent on that  issue too.

The strike   by CLOGSAG has crippled activities at the assemblies, affecting service delivery.

The association, which is also expected to be an advocate for decentralisation and local governance in the country, had failed to build the capacities of Unit Committees and zonal councils to operate efficiently and effectively in the country.

It is also surprising to note that if there is any issue bordering on decentralisation and local governance, the media always have to fall on former officials  of NALAG for response, which has indicted the current leadership of the association and rendered their relevance questionable in recent times.

NALAG is also not functional in the regions as it has no regional offices except the headquarters in Accra. Therefore, one would ask what happens to the dues paid to the association by the MMDAs and the donor support it receives.

As delegates gather in Sunyani to elect new national executive, they must ask themselves “Are we going to vote to let the association remain dormant or we are voting to ensure that the association become vibrant, relevant and a force to  reckon with when it comes to matters of decentralisation and local governance in the country?”

The conference would attract seasoned resource  persons to deliver presentations on the theme while there would be panel discussions which would afford the participating Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies ( MMDAs) the opportunity to share their experiences with conference.

The conference is also expected to be attended by participants from Germany, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and the Gambia Local Governments associations.

The National Executive Council ( NEC) of NALAG would also present its report to the conference.

A total of 1,080 delegates are expected to elect new national executive officers to steer the affairs of the  association at the conference.

The delegates comprise MMDCEs, Presiding Members (PMs) and three assembly members each from the 216 MMDAs across the country.

The positions into which new national executives would be elected are the President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 1st Trustee, 2nd Trustee and National Treasurer.

At this juncture, delegates to the conference have to ponder and consider the future of NALAG,  whether they are going to vote to ensure that the association works to meet its core objectives of representing the local authorities in Ghana effectively at the national and international level; promote the rights, privileges and interests of all members (local authorities) as affected by enacted legislation; and to assist in maintaining a high standard of local government service delivery.

Again, delegates must also vote for a vibrant, dynamic, creative, innovative and experienced people  to improve the  partnership with the central government in the implementation and monitoring of its programmes in the districts and provide a channel for effective communication between member local authorities and the central government.

With this, I wish delegates to the conference an enjoyable stay and a fruitful deliberation.

By Samuel Duodu/Daily Graphic/Ghana