"I wish to remind all that party politics are over. We have one President who is for all Ghanaians. Irrespective of our tribal, religious or political affiliations, let us ensure peace, unity and sustainable development. We should forget about party colourisation and support the government to deliver on its mandate to improve upon the living standard of the people," he said in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Upper East Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Azonko, at the Upper East Regional  Delegates Conference of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG).

He said polarisation had been extended by some assembly members into their various communities in the exercise of their powers, and “that is why most assemblies in the region held more than two meetings to elect their presiding members (PMs).

“Some had to hold as many as three or more meetings before they could elect their presiding members. In some cases, even when compromises were made to get someone elected, the lack of trust still remains with us,” he stated.

Read also: ‘We shall move Africa beyond aid’ – Akufo-Addo

The conference was on the theme: “The Role of Local Authorities in the Implementation of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development.” It was attended by municipal and district chief executives (DCEs), PMs and some assembly members.

The regional minister reminded the assembly members that their people and the government had put their trust in them by electing and nominating them to serve in the assemblies and urged them not to take it as a personal glory but advised them to work in synergy towards relieving their people of abject poverty.

The President of NALAG, Mr Felix Mensah Nii Annan, said the transition and revocation of the membership of the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) had affected the composition of the National Executive Council (NEC) of NALAG; hence, the need to hold fresh elections to constitute a new NEC.

He stated that in spite of these challenges, NALAG  had been able to build the capacities of its members, recruited a general secretary to ensure smooth operations at its secretariat and had started building a database to facilitate the planning and administration of the association.

The General Secretary of NALAG, Mr Kokro Amankwah, called on the assemblies to mainstream into their medium-term development plans the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change mitigation.

He said the European Union and other development partners were prepared to support the assemblies to implement programmes and projects geared towards achieving the SDG's and climate change and indicated that NALAG was sourcing for funding to train the planning and budget officers of various  MMDAs on writing winnable proposals.

Elections

The DCE for Bongo, Mr Peter  Ayimbisa Ayamga, was elected to represent the Upper East Region on the NEC of NALAG. He polled 33 votes after a hotly contested election to beat the PM of the Builsa South District Assembly, Mr Richard Ajuik, who had 31 votes.

The DCE commended the delegates for reposing their confidence in him and pledged to work to improve the working and living conditions of members at the regional level and called for support from the membership.