Revenue generation and allocation issues identified by the Ministry of Tourism The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs says limiting the tenure of Paramount Chiefs would foster accountability and improve good governance at community levels. In a consultative meeting with the Local Government and other ancillary branches of government sub-committee of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), on November 13, 2014; the Tourism ministry said the legislative powers of traditional leaders must be upheld and strengthened by statute. “Entrusting local traditional leaders with judicial powers is crucial but the chiefdom councils must be maintained to neutralize the excesses local rulers,” noted the Permanent Secretary of the Tourism Ministry. They believed with a conviction based on experience that party politics must be divorced from the local council elections to engender development in every region and district irrespective of which political power reigns. Aruna Mans-Davies was the focal person during the consultations; he said the 1991 Constitution made no provision for Local Government because it was deemed as a separate entity with self governing status. He furthered that the constitutional review process offered a perfect opportunity to address some of the controversial issues that need constitutional attention. They recommended that revenue must be allocated to local councils based on the revenue generated from their localities. Other issues discussed, maintaining the retirement age of 60, the payment of local tax, capacity building of civil servants among other things. Like many other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs pledged to present a position paper to the Review Committee that would encapsulate their views and aspirations for the revised constitution.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 16:00:17 +0000
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