The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), in collaboration with the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) and DaovTech Design Group, held the 2nd Progress Meeting on the Improvement/Construction of six junctions under the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP). The meeting took place on Wednesday, January 22, 2024, at the conference room of the Ministry.

The GUMAP initiative, aimed at enhancing road safety and alleviating traffic congestion, targets six key junctions within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA). These include Mambo Junction in Ga Central, Otublohum Road/Obibini Street Intersection in Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Baba Yara Road/Padmore Street Intersection in Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Ashongman Road/Alafia Road Intersection in Ga East, Three Junction in Ga West, and Ogbojo New Market Intersection in Adentan and La Nkwantanang Madina.

The project seeks to address long-standing challenges associated with traffic congestion and safety concerns in these areas. By improving the flow of traffic and reducing delays, the project is expected to enhance mobility and contribute to economic growth within GAMA.

The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders, including MLGDRD, DUR, DaovTech Design Group (Supervision Consultants), and representatives from the five contracted firms, to assess progress and address challenges in implementing the project. The contractors, who are key players in delivering the project, include Hydronomics Ltd, Brison Construction Ltd, Bothaa Ltd, S.S Kenkas Ltd, and ZDI Ltd.

The project commenced in November 2024, with construction activities well underway. According to the project timeline, all works are expected to be completed by May 2025.

Speaking at the meeting, the Technical Supervisor from the Department of Urban Roads highlighted the importance of adhering to quality standards and timelines, emphasizing the project's potential to transform urban mobility in the selected areas. Representatives from DaovTech Design Group presented an update on supervision and progress, noting significant milestones achieved while outlining areas requiring further attention.

The project aligns with the broader goals of the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project, which seeks to create safer, more efficient urban transportation networks across the country. As the work progresses, stakeholders remain committed to delivering high-quality results that meet the needs of the affected communities.

SOURCE: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Melody Hini-Amoako

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) has issued directives to facilitate a smooth transition following the revocation of appointments of all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and appointed Assembly Members by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana.

The President’s decision, effective 8th January 2025, was conveyed through a letter addressed to the Chief Director of the Ministry. The revocation of the MMDCEs’ appointments and the mandates of Assembly Members aligns with Section 10(9)(a) of the Local Governance (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Act 940).

In a swift response to the directive, the Chief Director has instructed all MMDCEs to hand over their duties, government assets, and all relevant documents to their respective Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Coordinating Directors (MMDCDs). The MMDCDs are to oversee the daily administration of the Assemblies until new appointments are made.

Additionally, appointed Assembly Members have been directed to immediately return any public assets in their possession to their respective MMDCDs. The Chief Director emphasized that during this interim period, MMDCDs must refrain from undertaking any capital expenditure-related activities.

These measures are intended to ensure continuity of administrative functions within the Assemblies while upholding accountability and safeguarding public resources.

The Ministry has urged all affected individuals to comply fully with the directives to support a seamless transition.

SOURCE: Darling Maame Efua Cann & Sandra Owusu Asamoah

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)

The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) has organised a two-day records management training for staff of the Records Unit and some other key staff of the ministry to enable them to appreciate the concept of records and records management for the overall efficiency and productivity of the ministry.

The purpose of the two-day training which took place from 11-12 December 2024 was to aid participants in effective record keeping to ensure the accurate archival of the ministry’s vital documents to retrieve and review later.

In an opening statement Mr. Dela Kemevor, Director, General Administration of the MLGDRD noted that data and documents were crucial factors responsible for information workflow within an organisation and the way they are curated decides the productivity of various departments that are interconnected through various processes and events, stressing that records management could significantly influence the overall organisational efficiency, workflow processes, security & integrity, litigation and compliance.

He added that training staff on record management was extremely important for the productivity of the ministry because well-trained employees have more confidence in their work, perform better, and are more likely to commit to their employer for the long term.

The facilitators: Mr. Abraham Allotey and Mr Josiah Gyimah, both from the Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) took participants through carefully selected record management topics including Principles of Record Management, Contemporary Issues in Records Management, The Role of Directors and Heads of Units in Effective Records Management, Corporate Ethics in Records Management, Duties and Liabilities of the Record Officer among other important topics. Participants were also taken through the emerging trends of record keeping like Increasing Amount of Electronic Records, Growing Importance of Disaster Recovery, and  Integration and Interoperability.

Records Management Training can be defined as a Program designed to impart learning pertaining to the essentials of record management practices, key underlying concepts, best practices and guidelines that the personnel must adhere to.

Present at the training programme were staff and some directors of the ministry.

SOURCE: Sandra Owusu Asamoah

(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)