New created assemblies to be inaugurated early next year

Accra, Dec. 5, GNA- The newly created district, metropolitan and municipal assemblies are expected to be inaugurated by the first week of February next year. By that time, cabinet might have approved the draft Legislative Instrument (LI) for the establishment of the assemblies. Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), at his office in Accra on Monday. He the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation was working on the draft LI. The Minister said the cost of operating the new assemblies had been captured in the 2008 budget. Mr. Adjei-Darko said the National Electoral Commission (NEC) was expected to provide inputs in the preparation for the draft LI, next week. He said in making the input, the NEC would take into consideration concerns and protests by some people in respect with the creation of the assemblies. Mr Adjei-Darko said government would not be bound by any input because they would only be advisory. He said, while awaiting for the LI "we would be looking at transition process, for example, sharing of movable assets, transferring of assembly members and staff to their respective assemblies." Mr Adjei-Darko said departments to be established under the assemblies included Trade and Tourism, Natural Resources, Central Administration, Sports, Environment, and Transport. He also mentioned the Country and Town Planning, Social Welfare and Community Development, Natural Resources, Works Department comprising of Feeder and Urban Roads as departments to be established.