JASIKAN : Seek Peoples Interest First And... - DCE

The District Chief Executive for Jasikan District Assembly of the Volta region, Mr Solomon Kwame Donkor, has advised members of the district’s unit committees and area councils to seek first the interest of the people and everything that they need would be given them.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new Unit Committees, Town and Area Councils, he said any time the communities interest supercedes personal interest development gains. The committees and the councils are to empower the members to work in their various places.

He reminded the members that the Unit Committees, Town and Area Councils constitute very important structures through which various communities would have opportunities to pursue their developmental hopes and aspirations hence they should seek first the interest of their communities and not their personal gains.

He said: “Any member that will use his or her position to gain undue favours from the Unit Committee, Town or Area Council will be committing a serious offence and conflict of interest and should be liable to sanction”. 

He congratulated the members for their election and appointment to the committees and councils and said that what is more important is their ability to serve in these capacities.

Hon Solomon also advised the council and committee members to interact regularly with traditional authorities, community based organizations and community leaders with the view to strengthening decentralization and good governance concepts.

Furthermore, the DCE expressed the assembly’s preparedness to support the members with relevant powers, manpower and technical logistics which will enhance the performance of their functions.

However, the DCE noted with deep regret the assembly’s inability to generate enough revenue to support developmental activities in the district.  He urged the councils to intensify revenue mobilization on regular basis and be at the forefront in creating awareness to the citizens to live up to their responsibilities by contributing their quota to improve revenue situation of the assembly and the council.

On sanitation, the DCE expressed worry over refuse heaps, choked gutters and poor drainage systems and the danger these conditions pose on the environment. To bring the situation under control, Hon Donkor, said there will soon be the reintroduction of the concept of “samansaman” or “tankase” to re-awake the environmental consciousness of everyone in the country.  

The Unit Committees, Town and Area Councils have been asked to launch sensitive and relevant programmes to deal with both liquid and solid waste as well as pass bye – laws and devise effective means of enforcing environmental cleanliness.

He called for unity and cooperation among the committee and council members for an effective and successful administration.