A leading member of the NDC, Kwamena Ahwoi, says a better and more efficient decentralization programme can be expected from the NDC government. According to him, the party has a better grasp of local government issues having passed the National Development Planning System Act (Act 480) in 1994. The Act, he said, is geared towards aggregating views from opinion leaders from the communities which then informs the policy initiatives by government. Mr. Ahwoi said the District Assembly Common fund was also instituted by the NDC to fund the projects. “NPP did not do it that way. We passed those laws. We know how it works,” the former Local Government Minister in the Rawlings-led administration told Joy News’ Matilda Asante on Tuesday. Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi said the newly appointed DCE’s will undergo a one week course intended to orient them on basic decentralization principles. He dismissed criticisms that government did not consult the local people before appointing new DCE’s. According to him, the appointment underwent rigorous short-listing processes, soliciting views from the local, regional and national leaders. Listen to excerpts of the interview with Mr Ahwoi in the attached audio. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com