Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih has cautioned Municipal and District Assemblies that refuse to confirm the president’s Municipal and District Chief Executive nominees to reconsider their stance as development would not wait till they do.

He said the assemblies that have confirmed the president’s nominees have demonstrated that there are in dire need of development.

According to him, such assemblies would ensure that they benefit from the programmes and projects of the government.

Dr. Bin Salih made the statement during the swearing in ceremony of 8 out of 11 municipal and district chief executives in the Upper West region.

‘‘The president is the head of state of government. He knows those he can work with and it is his responsibility to appoint persons he is comfortable working with. I therefore want to appeal to the Assemblies that have not been able to confirm their nominees to do that the next time around. Development will not wait for any assembly. Work has started,’ he added.

Three Assemblies namely Lawra, Jirapa and Wa West have rejected the president’s nominees.

The President’s municipal chief executive nominees for Jirapa and Lawra, Christine Bombanye-Amadu and Martin Bomba-ire Domatieri respectively were rejected by the assemblies after two rounds of voting.

The third nominee, Ali Bukari was outrightly rejected by the Wa West assembly. Twenty-six Assembly Members objected to his confirmation.

The trio has been renominated by the president according to the Upper West regional minister,
The eight successful nominees were sworn in to office by the Supervising Wa high court judge, Justice Yussif Assibey.

In the presence of members of the Upper West Regional Security Council, municipal and district coordinating directors, spouses and close family members and friends of the MDCEs, they swore the oath of office, allegiance and secrecy.

Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih urged the MDCEs to follow due process in all their dealings, consult the coordinating directors and other technical officers at the Assemblies admitting that they need the cooperation of the aforementioned officers to succeed.

He further urged them to develop cordial relationship with major stakeholders in their areas including Assembly members, traditional, religious leaders and vulnerable groups.

Dr. Bin Salih noted that the position of MDCEs requires humility and respect for all; asking them to run an open-door administration.

'" You were nominated and confirmed as municipal chief executives not on your right but instead, the interest of the people and the government. You have the singular and onerous duty to strive to improve the wellbeing of people within your jurisdiction.
After the tenure of your office, you should be able to sit back and point at specific things you have been able to do which have affected and changed the lives of your people positively,’’ the minister further tasked the MMDCEs.

He tasked them to address issues of security, low local economic development, internal general funds and other critical areas such as building in unauthorized places, illegal mining and sanitation.

Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Issahaku Tahiru Moomin who also doubles as the dean of MDCEs in the region pledged on behalf of his colleagues to run an open-door administration which can only succeed in a conducive environment laced with cooperation and wise council from the public.