The Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. Mrs. Charity Gardiner has sworn the six (6) newly confirmed Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) into office in a colourful, grand and well attended ceremony held at the Zeniel Oasis Hotel in Goaso, on Thursday, 17th April, 2025.
The ceremony brought together a cross-section of distinguished personalities including Hon. Members of Parliament, Traditional Leaders, Religious Leaders, Political Party representatives, Staff of the Regional Co-ordinating Council, Staff of the Municipal/District Assemblies and Heads of Departments, underscoring the unique importance of the occasion.
As a brief background, His Excellency the President in accordance with Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 20 (1) of the Local Governance Act 2016, (Act 936) (as amended) nominated eligible persons to the positions of Hon. Municipal/District Chief Executive in the Ahafo Region with prior approval of the respective Assemblies.
The Regional Co-ordinating Council under the leadership of the Hon. Regional Minister collaborated actively with the election supervising body, the Electoral Commission to conduct the exercises to confirm the nominees. Happily, all nominees in the Ahafo Region were successfully confirmed by their respective Assemblies with the Regional Minister witnessing each session.
As a matter of consequence, the Hon. Regional Minister as enjoined by Section
201 (3) of the Local Governance Act 2016 and the Regional Co-ordinating Council in line with its mandate performed the official swearing-in ceremony to officially induct the confirmed Chief Executives into office.
Delivering the keynote address, the Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. (Mrs.) Charity Gardiner, congratulated the newly confirmed MDCEs on behalf of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic. She reminded them that the swearing-in ceremony was not only a formal induction but a call to leadership and service to the people of Ahafo.
The Hon. Regional Minister commended traditional leaders, political actors, including the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other stakeholders for their collaborative efforts which ensured a smooth and peaceful confirmation process. She described their support as a clear sign of Ghana’s deepening democratic culture.
Addressing the new Hon. MDCEs directly, Hon. (Mrs.) Gardiner urged them to see their appointments as a privilege and a serious responsibility. She told them that, “You represent the President at the local level. Your role is to unify and mobilize your districts for development”.
The Minister outlined key challenges facing the region, including poor sanitation, inadequate revenue generation, youth unemployment, illegal mining (galamsey), and environmental degradation. She called on the new Chief Executives to work collaboratively with Co-ordinating Directors, Assembly Members, MPs, Traditional Leaders and other stakeholders to tackle these issues head-on.
She also stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership, reminding the Hon. MDCEs of their obligation to strictly adhere to public financial and procurement laws.
Hon. (Mrs.) Gardiner called on all community members and political supporters to manage their expectations and give the MDCEs the space and support needed to serve effectively.
In a quick response to the charge by the Hon. Regional Minister, the District
Chief Executive for Asutifi South, Hon. Benjamin Assabil Donkor on behalf of his colleague Municipal and District Chief Executives thanked His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama for the confidence reposed in them by nominating them to serve in their new capacities. He further thanked the Hon. Regional Minister and the Chiefs and Hon. Assembly Members in their respective districts for endorsing their nominations. He promised that they were going to work hard to justify the confidence that the President and the people have reposed in them.
Similarly, the President of the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and Omanhene of Ntotroso Traditional Area, Barima Twereku Ampem III who spoke on behalf of the chiefs in the Region, thanked President John Dramani Mahama for the trust in his nominees. Nana admonished fairness in service delivery and urged the Hon. MDCEs to treat all the people in their areas with respect. Particularly, he indicated that all Assembly Members should be seen as equal because the outcome of their confirmation indicated that, in spite of the persuasions and sympathies of Hon. Assembly Members, they all voted to confirm them. He charged them to place huge premium on the development of their areas so that their legacies would outlive them.
The ceremony ended with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism for accelerated development in the Ahafo Region under the leadership of the newly sworn-in Chief Executives.
