A
task force set up by government to look into
the issue of the formation of the National
Council of Paramount chiefs and of issues
regarding local government has presented its
report to President Kabbah.
The
consultant team, which includes Alhaji Lamin
Sidique and S A T Bayoh, was set up in April
this year. In his statement Alhaji Lamin Sidique
said they were very pleased to carry out such
an assignment. He said during the course of
their work they travelled throughout the country
and also held consultations with local authorities.
President Kabbah thanked the team for carrying
out the task describing it as a very good
resource material that could form the foundation
for the development of a policy.
He
called for the report to be made available
to Paramount Chiefs and for the Vice President
and the Ministry of Local Government to organise
a meeting with the Paramount Chiefs so they
could look at the report and make suggestions
and recommendations. "Government would
like to get the direct inputs of chiefs into
whatever policy is to be formulated by the
government," the President stated.
The
President also called on Professor Nkrumah,
a consultant from Ghana on local government,
to assist in guiding the chiefs on the issue,
noting the concern of government on the need
to develop capacity at the local government
level.
Government, he said, would like to put in place
structures that would not only be long lasting
but would also accelerate development.
The
Vice President Solomon Berewa spoke of the
importance of collective input in the development
of the policy. "We have a lot of intelligent
Paramount chiefs and their input would be
very useful," the Vice President noted.
