The Acting Head of the Local Government Service (LGS), Mr Kwasi Oppong Owusu, has called for professional standards of behaviour for Directors of Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments, for effective administration of government businesses and resources. That, he explained, would strengthen the demeanour of the technocrats in order not for them to dance to the tune of politicians. According to the Head of the LGS, Directors and members of the public and civil service are to regulate the activities of politicians, whom he described as always under pressure, and may therefore go out of the way, to ensure they meet the standards of the developmental agenda. Mr Oppong Owusu was speaking at the opening of a sensitization workshop on the Local Service Delivery Programme, for Municipal and District Chief Executives, Coordinating Directors, Directors of Education and heads of departments and agencies, in the Eastern Region in Koforidua. Mr Owusu observed that presentations at the Ghana @ 50 probe, where district coordinating directors and other public servants could not account for the stewardships, is a clear manifestation of the lack of professionalism on their part. He indicated that development is the only means through which the well-being and standard of living of the people could be improved, and for that reason those put in charge of administration must live to that expectation by regulating the activities of politicians. Mr Oppong noted that in as much as the decentralization system must be strengthened, the technocrats and administrators put in charge must also have the capacity to manage funds and regulate activities for the benefit of the people and for proper rendition of accounts when called to do so. Nana Dwamena Agyekum, the Coordinator of the Local Service delivery and Governance Programme (LSDGP), said the programme is being funded by DANIDA in five regions and 44 districts including eight in the Eastern Region. He noted that under the programme, the eight beneficiary districts have been given grants to work in the areas of feeder roads, water and sanitation, and other areas of their medium and short term development projects. He therefore, urged the beneficiary districts to ensure that grants given them are used judiciously for the benefit of the people within the time frame. The Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, also urged the eight beneficiary districts to form a consultancy for hasty delivery of the projects and to cut down cost of consultancy charges. He indicated that for the decentralization process to be effective those at the helm of affairs must build their capacities, and appealed to the Municipal and District Chief Executives to work hard to improve the living conditions of the communities under the LSDGP. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo commended DANIDA for instituting capacity building as a component of the programme for all the eight beneficiary districts and its working partners such as the Feeder Roads and Public Works Department and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA). Source: GNA