By Zobia Zulfqar 
The Institute of Local Government Service (ILGS) has organised a two-day leadership workshop for Assembly Members of the Kwadwoaso Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region.
The workshop, held at the Assembly’s Conference Hall, was designed to strengthen the leadership, governance and decision-making skills of Assembly Members and improve service delivery at the local level.
The training covered several areas relevant to the work of Assembly Members, including the Local Government Act, corporate governance and oversight responsibilities, deliberative functions, meeting procedures and decentralisation.
Participants were also trained on the making and enforcement of Assembly by-laws, community mobilisation and the functions of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
Focus on leadership and governance
The workshop also examined leadership and change-making processes to help Assembly Members contribute more effectively to the development of their respective electoral areas.
The training forms part of efforts to strengthen local governance by equipping elected representatives with knowledge and skills needed to perform their responsibilities effectively.
Assembly Members play an important role in local government through their participation in deliberations, oversight activities and community engagement. Strengthening their capacity could therefore support more effective decision-making and service delivery within local communities.
Officials attend workshop
Among those who attended the workshop were the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Eric Asibey, Municipal Coordinating Director Mr Francis Adu Boateng, Assembly Members and officers from the Human Resource Department.
Addressing the participants, Mr Asibey encouraged them to take full advantage of the training to acquire new knowledge and strengthen their leadership and governance skills.
He stressed the importance of continuous learning for effective leadership at the local level.
According to him, the training would help Assembly Members better represent their constituents, make informed decisions and contribute to development in their electoral areas.
Strengthening local government
The workshop highlights the importance of capacity building in Ghana’s decentralised local government system.
Assembly Members are responsible for representing communities and participating in decisions affecting local development. Their understanding of legislation, governance procedures and oversight responsibilities is therefore important to the effective functioning of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
Training in areas such as community mobilisation and by-law enforcement also provides Assembly Members with practical knowledge for engaging residents and supporting local development initiatives.
The ILGS workshop therefore provided an opportunity for participants to improve their understanding of their responsibilities while developing leadership skills that could support their work within the Kwadwoaso Municipal Assembly.
The two-day programme forms part of broader efforts to improve the capacity of local government officials and elected representatives and strengthen governance at the community level.
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