The National Association of Local Authorities Ghana (NALAG) has constituted various working subcommittees including Finance and Administration, Policy and Resolutions, Economic Development; Environment, Sanitation, and Tourism; Gender and Development; International Relations and Public Relations, and Legal Reforms and Welfare to help deliver its mandate.
The terms of reference for the committees among others are to develop a suitable framework and activities that will enhance the visibility of the Association, identify opportunities and actionable programmes of the individual committees and any other issue the Committees deems relevant to the accomplishment of their assignment.
Inaugurating the committees, President of NALAG, Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh said members of the committees were carefully selected based on their pedigree as Honorable members of the Association.
He expressed optimism selected members of the various committees will be guided by the interest of the association in the discharge of their mandate as a matter of urgency.
“I do not doubt that you would carry out the assignment in the best interest of all members and stakeholders of this Association. You are expected to carry out the assignment and submit its Report within one (1) week from the day of inauguration.
I expect that whatever we have to offer as NEC Members, Subcommittee Members, and Secretariat for the Association will be our utmost priority this year since we have limited time to position this Association in its right place’’ Nana Agyemang Prempeh stated.
The NALAG President acknowledged the critical role of the local governance system for the sustainable development of the country and urged the need for members to work assiduously to make the current administration the best in the annals of the association.
“People are hungry to get our noble Association to a point that will not only go into the annals as one of the best administrations but also position the Association as a vital part of our local governance system without which development at the local level will not be sustainable.
Some of us are asking the question “how can we drive this Association to be more visible in the face of the current trend of financial uncertainties within the various levels of governance, particularly within our local governance system?” the NALAG president indicated.
NALAG’s vision is to champion Decentralization in Ghana by representing the interest of Local Government (i.e. Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies– MMDAs) to central Government and by ensuring that the process leads to the empowerment of local government institutions and vibrant civil society that would be capable of delivering efficient, effective and sustainable public service to the population at large.
The association was established in November 1977 to serve as an umbrella organization for local government authorities in Ghana.
It has accomplished key achievements in training, research, education, outreach programs, and representation of women.
Despite the gains chalked, the association is faced with challenges such as lobbying and advocacy, outreach programs, conditions of service, ownership, and membership of NALAG, awareness of NALAG members, stakeholders’ perception and expectation of NALAG and financing options for NALAG activities among others.
