Head of Local Government Service visits Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly

Welcoming the delegation, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Mary Haruna expressed profound appreciation for the visit, describing it as a clear demonstration of the Service's commitment to promoting effective human resource management and ensuring that staff are adequately supported to deliver on their mandates.

Addressing the gathering, the DCE noted that the engagement provided an important opportunity for constructive dialogue, knowledge sharing and the exchange of ideas, and expressed the hope that staff would use the platform to express their concerns and gain further insight into the strategic direction of the Service.

The DCE reported encouraging developments in the Assembly's institutional performance, announcing that the Assembly emerged as the best-performing District Assembly in the Upper West Region in the 2024 District Performance Assessment Test (DPAT) conducted on the District Development Data Platform (DDDP).

She attributed the achievement to collective commitment, effective coordination and the dedication of Management and staff towards meeting the prescribed performance indicators.

The Assembly, she said, sustained the positive performance in the 2025 DPAT assessment, placing second in the Region. Although the first position was not maintained, the DCE described the result as a commendable level of consistency that provides further motivation to work harder in subsequent assessments.

She also reported a considerable improvement in staff punctuality compared to previous years, while acknowledging that there was still room for improvement in professionalism, responsiveness, accountability and the overall quality of service delivery.

While acknowledging the Assembly's modest achievements, the DCE brought to the attention of the Head of Service some institutional and human resource challenges affecting the smooth administration of the Assembly.

Prominent among them is the absence of a Presiding Member following two unsuccessful attempts to elect one. The DCE noted that the situation has affected the smooth functioning of some committees and the effective conduct of the business of the House, making it imperative that the position is filled to strengthen the Assembly's oversight and governance functions.

She also raised concerns about staff upgrading, particularly among subprofessional staff below Level 15 who have acquired higher academic and professional qualifications but are yet to be upgraded, appealing for intervention to facilitate their career progression in line with the applicable conditions of service.

Delays in the processing and implementation of staff promotions were also flagged as a concern, with the DCE noting that they negatively impact staff morale, motivation and productivity. She appealed for measures to expedite promotion processes and ensure that deserving officers receive timely career progression.

Additionally, the DCE drew attention to placement and classification concerns affecting officers within the Statistics class, revealing that some officers recruited as Statisticians are currently placed on Budget Class grades. He respectfully sought the intervention of the Head of Service to review the situation and facilitate the necessary administrative corrections where applicable.

The DCE emphasised that an efficient and effective Local Government Service is built not only on sound policies and administrative structures but also on a motivated, competent and professionally fulfilled workforce.

She reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to the principles of good governance, institutional accountability and efficient service delivery, as well as her own commitment as political head of the District to providing the necessary leadership and direction to sustain the gains made.

"We shall continue to promote discipline, professionalism, teamwork and a results-oriented work culture among staff," she stated, adding that the ultimate objective is to build a responsive and efficient institution that places the needs of the citizenry at the centre of its operations.

The DCE encouraged all staff to take full advantage of the engagement, participate actively and make meaningful contributions to the discussions, urging them to approach the interaction with open minds and a shared commitment to improving the quality of public service delivery.