The Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) have been given a severe two-week deadline by Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo to fix all of the broken lamps in their jurisdictions.
During a news conference in Accra on Thursday, August 28, Madam Ocloo disclosed that her office had purchased 3,000 streetlights to be distributed in coordination with the Ministry of Energy. One hundred units will be given to each assembly.
She urged MMDCEs to buy more lights in order to completely address the problem, stressing that this assistance cannot take the place of their local accountability.
“Let me be clear: you have only two weeks to ensure that every single one of those lights is fixed. No excuses, no delays. I will personally monitor this directive. Any chief executive who fails to comply will be exposed and reported. If you cannot manage these basic tasks, then you have no business occupying that office,” she warned.
The minister emphasized that assemblies must “wake up to their responsibilities,” characterizing the rise of illegal billboards, inadequate street lighting, and sanitation issues as obvious indicators of neglect.
“At this stage, excuses are nothing but an embarrassment to the people we serve. Leadership is not about sitting in offices and enjoying perks; it’s about delivering results. And right now, many of you are simply sleeping on your jobs,” she continued.
Streetlights are “a matter of public safety, urban order, and a crucial driver of the 24-hour economy being pursued by government,” she says, adding that they are more than just infrastructure.
Additionally, Madam Ocloo warned MMDCEs against using assembly offices as venues for political gatherings or assigning official responsibilities to personal assistants (PAs).
“Some of you have surrounded yourselves with personal assistants who have virtually taken over your official responsibilities. If you decide to engage PAs, their role is strictly to help organise your schedules, manage your time, and provide administrative support. They are not to approve documents or represent you at official meetings. This must stop immediately,” she stated.
She also cautioned that unelected people “hiding behind the authority” of MMDCEs cannot run assemblies, adding that strict confidentiality must be maintained and that no chief executive would be permitted to attend meetings of the Regional Co-ordinating Council with a PA.
“This practice ends now, and if it continues, the individuals involved will face serious consequences,” she warned.
Source: newsthemegh.com