Presiding Members and Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) from across the Volta Region gathered for the 2025 Annual Conference to forge a renewed path for local governance under the theme: “Resetting Local Leadership for National Rebuilding: Advancing Decentralization, Participation, and Sustainable Development.”
The three-day event underscored the critical role of effective, accountable, and inclusive leadership at the grassroots level as foundational to Ghana’s broader development agenda.
In a keynote address, Mr. Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, Volta Regional Representative to the Council of State, stressed that the success of national policies hinges on their translation into tangible community outcomes. “Communities in Agotime, Keta, Sogakope, Ho, and Aflao demand more than rhetoric — they expect jobs, infrastructure, and improved services,” he emphasized.
To empower local leaders, Mr. Kwamigah-Atokple presented each Presiding Member with symbolic tools of office including ceremonial gowns, gavels, copies of the Local Governance Act, and a GHS 50,000 cash support, reinforcing their leadership mandate.
The conference highlighted innovative strategies for boosting Internally Generated Funds (IGF), urging assemblies to embrace digital revenue collection, leverage tourism, and collaborate with local cooperatives. These efforts align with the national 24-Hour Economy initiative aimed at stimulating continuous productivity and job creation.
Volta Regional Minister Mr. James Gunu advocated extending the tenure of Presiding Members from two to four years to enhance leadership continuity and effectiveness. He also called for pragmatic solutions to logistical challenges faced by MDCEs, such as costly vehicle maintenance.
Local economic development featured prominently, with calls to revive area councils and unit committees as vital grassroots structures supporting vital registrations and revenue efforts. Successful projects like livestock markets were showcased as models for replicating revenue diversification.
Mr. Jerry Ameko, Dean of MDCEs, reaffirmed commitment to fostering an inclusive leadership style that listens and empowers communities, aligning with President John Dramani Mahama’s national rebuilding agenda.
Presiding Member for Ho Municipal Assembly, Mr. Mawunyo Agbe, underscored the conference’s urgency in resetting local leadership. He welcomed the government’s monthly allowance for assembly members and announced plans to extend assembly sitting days to enhance oversight.
Mr. Agbe also proposed establishing dedicated offices for Presiding Members and creating formal conferences for assembly and unit committee members to strengthen governance networks. A peer review mechanism was introduced to facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices among assemblies.
Concluding the conference, leaders expressed a unified commitment to leading with vision, integrity, and delivering measurable development that impacts the lives of citizens across the Volta Region.
