Ghana’s Local Govt Minister, Ofosu Ampofo picks Commonwealth portfolios
The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has been elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF).
Currently a Board Member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Mr Ampofo replaces his Jamaican counterpart, Mr Robert Montague, who has moved on to hold a higher portfolio in the Jamaican Government.
His endorsement came at the end of a two day meeting of the Executive Committee of the CLGF in London where the minister presented papers on behalf of the Government of Ghana. Mr Ampofo also picked up additional CLGF portfolio for youth and women.
Although being his first meeting with the forum, at its Conference at Cardiff in the United Kingdom, earlier this year, Mr Ampofo was elected to serve on the Forum’s Board.
The eight member Executive Committee of the CLGF include the Mayor of Belize City Council, Mayor Zenaida Moya, who is the Chairperson, Minister of Local Government, Uganda, Mr Adolf Mwesige, the President of New Zealand Local Government, Mayor Lawrence Yule and Cllr Marvin Hunt.
Mr Ampofo presented two concept papers to the Executive Committee on the topics “Improving Local Governance in the Context of- Local Economic Development” -and “Fostering Women’s Empowerment Through Local Governance and Economic Development” for discussion.
The presentations were highly appreciated and applauded by the members and were immediately adopted. The Chairman, Mayor Zenaida Moya, observed that the documents had excellent solutions to the numerous challenges facing women within the Commonwealth fraternity.
He expressed the hope that Mr Ampofo’s inclusion on the board would enable the committee to gain more knowledge and skills on local governance.
He recounted Mr Ampofo’s rich experience in the field and as a chief executive of a district, a member of parliament, and a regional minister and said “we are, as a committee, delighted to tap such a dripping brain for the benefit of the Commonwealth and indeed the whole world.”
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the meeting in London, Mr Ampofo expressed his delight and said the responsibility that went with the position was what mattered most. He was of the view that the whole world had acknowledged the enormous potentials in Ghana and all organisations were now tapping all forms of resources from Ghana to enhance global development.
Source: Daily Graphic