Dr Samuel Asibuo, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana, has cautioned against turf-fights in the sub-metropolitan councils and said this could clip their effective functioning.
"Any misunderstanding between the main actors - chairmen and their secretaries could stoke confusion and wreck the implementation of programmes to meet the felt needs of the people," he noted.
Dr Asibuo said it was important that the sub-metros worked as genuine partners with a shared goal to bring progress to their areas of
jurisdiction.
He was speaking on the topic: "Managing conflicts at the Assembly," at a two-day capacity building workshop for more than 300 sub-district
councillors and unit committee members in the Kumasi Metropolis.
Organised by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and Zirmacon Multi-Consult Limited, the workshop was designed to help the participants to become
conversant with the various statutes and sub-legal instruments of the local government system.
"The Legal framework for Ghana's decentralisation process," "Minutes and
report writing," "Roles, responsibilities and relationship of key actors at the sub-metropolitan level," "Revenue mobilisation and management," "Ethical dilemmas in Ghana's district assembly system" and "The Metropolitan,
Municipal and District Assemblies as a planning authority," were among topics discussed.
Dr Asibuo said there should be unity of purpose and smooth working relationship to promote development.
He advised the participants to strive to achieve better understanding of the laws for efficient performance.