Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has called on African governments to partner the private sector to accelerate local level development for effective decentralisation. He noted that decentralisation was the pillar on which development at the local level pivoted and urged African leaders to "make government at all levels accessible to people in every part of their countries in line with good international practices and principles." Mr Yieleh Chireh made the call when he addressed the opening session of a four-day adhoc committee meeting of directors of local government for Africa in Accra on Tuesday. The meeting, sponsored by the German Development Cooperation (GTZ), and being attended by 15 directors from various African countries, is to plan the next All Africa Ministerial Conference on Decentralisation and Local Government (AMCOD) to be held later this month. AMCOD is to afford ministers of local government and decentralisation in Africa, the opportunity to review and share experience and good practices of leadership. It is also to reaffirm their commitment with respect to the implementation of decentralisation policies in local level development and service delivery. At the last AMCOD held in Yaounde, Cameroun in 2008, the ministers unanimously agreed to ensure effective decentralisation for rapid grassroots development. Mr Yieleh Chireh said a self-determining, innovative and accountable local authority within the reach of communities was a viable and attractive option adding this underscored the need for African governments to adopt a participatory local government system which would encourage responsible citizenship and local democracy for broad political education and development. He said this was the reason why the Ministry engaged in reviewing Ghana's over 20 years decentralisation system through organising 10 regional forums and a National Stakeholders' Dialogue. Mr Yieleh Chireh stressed the need for capacity building and empowerment of local authorities to enable them to engage in local economic development activities for the benefit of their people. "This is an effective tool in our bid to stem the tide of rural-urban migration, a major challenge on our continent," he said. Mr Owono Owono Etienne, Interim Permanent Secretary of AMCOD, urged participants to draw a detailed plan to ensure the success of the next AMCOD. Dr Volker Monikes, Programme Manager GTZ, expressed gratitude to the Government of Ghana for hosting the meeting even though the request was at a short notice. He said this demonstrated government's commitment to champion the cause of the citizenry and development agenda of the continent. Source: GNA