Mr Mumuni Shiraz Ibin Yacin, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Central Gonja, has appealed to Heads of Decentralized Departments to be committed to their work to ensure the development of the area.

He said “being heads of the decentralized departments, means that you are part of the governance of the country and you must work towards improving your areas of jurisdiction to justify the leadership roles you are playing”.

Mr Yacin made the appeal on Tuesday, during a familiarization visit to decentralized departments in the district, where he interacted with the staff of the various departments to know at first hand the problems confronting them.

Departments visited by the DCE included the district offices of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana Health Service (GHS), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Forestry Commission and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), where he outlined the development agenda of the District and solicited for their support.

Mr Yacin said the practice where heads of decentralized departments folded their arms and looked up in despair for the central government to do everything must cease and urged them to adopt innovative ways of doing things to improve their departments.

He said as a political head of the district, he is ready to listen to the problems facing the decentralized departments, and that, he would take the necessary measures to enhance operations in the District.

Mr Yacin said it is important for decentralized departments to be development oriented and help central government to address challenges confronting the people, saying, “We at the grassroots know the problems of the people and we must address them”.

The DCE said he would institute monthly interactions with all departments to keep him abreast with the progress of work in the District.

Mr Yacin said the district would partner with any development oriented Department to lobby development partners and other stakeholders to help raise the living standards of the people.

Some Heads of Departments complained about the undue delays in releasing subventions for administrative purposes, which was affecting the smooth running of their offices and appealed to government to take steps to address the situation.

GNA