The Awutu-Senya District Assembly has organised a two-day capacity-building training programme to enhance the knowledge and skills of Assembly Members in local governance.
The training, held at Awutu Bereku, the district capital, was aimed at equipping participants with the expertise needed to effectively perform their duties within their electoral areas and the Assembly.
Resource persons from the Institute of Local Government Studies facilitated sessions on Ghana’s decentralisation system, local government laws, corporate governance, and the oversight responsibilities of Assembly Members.
Participants were also taken through the functions of the three arms of government, deliberative functions and meeting procedures, the formulation and enforcement of by-laws, executive mandates of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), discretionary powers, leadership, community mobilisation, and project implementation.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Samuel Antwi-Boasiako, Coordinating Director of the Assembly, said the programme was strategically designed to strengthen the capacities of Assembly Members in areas such as by-law formulation, corporate governance, and oversight responsibilities.
He said the training would enable members to provide the needed support for the effective administration of the Assembly and contribute to the development of the district.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako urged the Assembly Members to put the knowledge acquired into practice and seek additional opportunities to improve their performance.
He expressed confidence that enhanced cooperation among members would help the Assembly achieve its development goals.
According to him, the Assembly remained committed to promoting professional development and equipping both members and staff with the tools required to excel in their respective roles.
Mr Francis Yaovi, Presiding Member of the Assembly, underscored the importance of continuous learning and professional development in strengthening the district’s governance framework.
“I hope the Assembly Members acquired the needful skills and knowledge to help us to work effectively to address challenges of the district and put smiles on the faces of the people in Awutu-Senya West,” he added.
Some Assembly Members, who shared their expectations and experiences, expressed gratitude to the District Chief Executive, the Coordinating Director and the Assembly’s management for organising the training.
They pledged to apply the knowledge gained to support the realisation of the district’s development vision.