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The newly created Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly (ACMA) was on Tuesday, inaugurated by the Greater Accra Regional Minister on behalf of the President of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo.

     The ACMA’s inauguration was one of the six newly created assemblies and districts that was inaugurated by Government simultaneously across the country. The newly formed ACMA will have Kokomlemle as its capital.

     Mr Ishmael Nii Ashitey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, who read a speech on behalf of the president said, the new assemblies, which had been created, was in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).

     He said the inauguration fulfilled the constitutional provision for the country to have a system of local government and administration “which shall, as far as practicable be decentralized.”

     “As it has been stated on numerous occasions my government is offering a new approach in doing things to drive agenda for change, growth, job creation and prosperity for all. The agenda will certainly be fulfilled if government brings governance to the doorsteps of the people. This will ensure effective and efficient decentralization through grassroots participation, better planning and improve service delivery in our local communities,” he said.

     The Minister said the assembly together with the rest created were considered to be essential for ensuring balanced and equitable development at the local level.

     He added that, the assemblies were focal areas of the governments rural and urban development agenda, which included; provision of better opportunities for poverty reduction and enhancement of quality life, using agricultural regeneration and industrialization as well as urban renewal programmes with emphasis on development and maintenance of urban infrastructure.

     He entreated all stakeholders to be focused, committed and pursue the agenda of development with one purpose while the government spearheaded the effort at accelerating and sustaining decentralization.

     “We should endeavour to make the decentralization agenda work by minimizing agitations on siting capitals, election of presiding members, appointment of government nominees, chief executives and provision of critical facilities of the communities.”

     Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, the Mayor of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) said the AMA as at 2017 had 10 sub-metros “but the president in his wisdom has created six Municipal Assemblies including the ACMA.”

    He urged the ACMA to do its utmost best to help the Accra Metropolitan Assembly so that the ambition and vision of the president would be realised.

     “The creation of the Assembly is in pursuant to the president’s agenda to bring development to the people and the government closer to the people.”

      He said the AMA was ready to compare notes and work together with the ACMA to achieve the “urban development agenda.”

    The inauguration was attended by government officials including Mr Henry Quartey, Deputy Interior Minister, Mr Vincent Sowah Odotei, Deputy Communications Minister, some Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, political party representatives and opinion leaders, among others.