By Edward Dankwah

Accra, July 11, GNA – The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has inaugurated the governing board of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) and the governing council of the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS).

The LUSPA Governing Board is required to devise strategies and programmes to ensure full implementation of provisions in Act 925, especially with respect to development and building permits in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The ILGS Governing Council is also expected to assist in evidence-based research to inform national policies and programmes on local governance and development in the country.

Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the sector minister, said the ILGS was a strategic research, training and academic institution established to organise professional training programmes for staff and political functionaries of Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and MMDAs.

He said ILGS had organised a series of orientations and training programmes for officials working in the RCCs and MMDAs, as well as higher degree programmes for people interested in deepening their knowledge and understanding of sub-national governance and development.

Mr. Ibrahim said the government was keen on building the capacity of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Assembly Members, and by extension officials of the MMDAs for effective and efficient service delivery.