A total of thirty Assembly Members from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) have undergone an intensive training and capacity-building workshop to enhance leadership and governance at the local level.

The program was part of a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, (MLGRD) aimed to equip Assembly members with the necessary skills to effectively execute their mandates.

The workshop, which took place on October 15 at the Accra City Hall was a key component of the 2024 Nationwide Orientation and Training Programme for Assembly Members of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The General Secretary of NALAG, Kokro Amankwah in an interview highlighted the importance of building the capacity of Assembly members to fulfill their roles as facilitators of development in their communities.

He explained that the training was designed to help members understand their roles better, from decision-making to articulating the needs of their constituencies.

He noted that beyond traditional service delivery, the workshop also addressed job creation for the youth and local economic development.

"Assembly Members are not just elected officials; they are leaders and representatives of the people. This training will equip them with the skills needed to identify and create job opportunities for their communities. We are also focusing on the digital skills required for government programs like youth employment initiatives," he said.

According to him, participants were introduced to several key topics, including the structure of local governance, decentralization processes, and the standing orders that regulate Assembly meetings.

"The Assembly Members are representing their people and must do so with trust and commitment. They need to ensure that the services and development projects reach their constituencies, and they must do this with transparency and accountability," he mentioned.

Some of the beneficiary Assembly Members on the sidelines expressed their appreciation for the training, citing it as a valuable opportunity to strengthen their leadership and governance skills.

They indicated that it would now help them tackle issues such as job creation and sanitation problems thereby improving standards of living in their communities.

They affirmed that the training deepened their understanding of the responsibilities required as an assembly member therefore they called for more of such exercises to empower them in the discharge of their duties.