Full Speech of NALAG President at the National Conference of Presiding Members in Tamale

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF NALAG, HON. ERIC NANA AGYEMANG-PREMPEH AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF PRESIDING MEMBERS AT MODERN CITY HOTEL, TAMALE, 19^TH-23^RD JUNE, 2023.

H.E. The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Alhaji Mahamud Bawumiah

Rt. Honorable Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin

His Eminent Council of State Members,

President of the National Presiding Members Conference,

Honorable Presiding Members,

Members of the Press

Ladies and Gentlemen

Being here with you at your National Presiding Members Conference is an honor. Your theme for this year’s Conference,  “The Role of Local Authorities in Ensuring Public Safety: The Business for All,” is timely considering the upcoming Local Level Election which requires a safe environment for the electorates to go all out to cast their votes for their respective Assembly Members and Unit Committee Members.

Security and safety are integral to an election’s goal and an inseparable part of the electoral process. Thankfully, the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are well placed to ensure that all Districts are safe.

Let me take the opportunity to congratulate our security apparatus, particularly the Police Service for the professional manner in which they have maintained peace and security in the country.

Honorable Members, It is important for us to note that an increasing number of people no longer view the safety of their neighborhoods as the sole responsibility of the police. Citizens in areas plagued by crime and violence are uniting to work with local government. Together, they have the knowledge and resources to identify and remove the sources of crime, and juvenile delinquency in their communities.

Developing and sustaining these partnerships requires strong local leadership from Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Presiding Members (PMs), Assembly Members, town and country planners, and other local officials.

Regarding the upcoming Local Level elections, safety and security are not only limited to formal security institutions.  Local Citizens, Civil society groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the media, and election observer groups all have an influence on the security environment through various mechanisms.

Crime causes serious problems for local governments when towns or city centers decay as residents, businesses, and jobs move away, reducing the tax base.

To have an impact on current crime problems and avoid greater problems in the future, municipal leaders must shift how they think and act. local leaders, you must see community safety as a basic human right. Good governance insists that local government leaders bear the primary responsibility for fostering safe and healthy communities.

Honorable members, you should be able to work with the right local partnerships with key actors— the police, government agencies, community organizations, and residents—to develop safe, secure, and vibrant communities in your respective Districts. These Partnerships will make significant gains in how crime prevention is viewed by the local people and the larger community.

Honorable members, public safety is a business for all, and it is our responsibility to make sure that our communities are safe for everyone. Let us prioritize public safety while we head towards this year’s District Assembly and Unit Committee Election.

I wish you all the best in your Conference.

Thank you.

*End.*