Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council

Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council
Name	Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council
Formed	1960s
Jurisdiction	Ashanti Region
Headquarters	Kumasi
Chief officer	Regional Minister
Parent agency	Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (Ghana)

Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council is the statutory regional coordinating body for the Ashanti Region headquartered in Kumasi. It interfaces with national authorities such as the President of Ghana, the Parliament of Ghana, and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (Ghana), while liaising with regional institutions including the Asantehene, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, and traditional authorities across Akyem and Tano Districts. The council operates within frameworks influenced by the Local Government Act, 1993 (Ghana), historical arrangements dating to the Gold Coast (British colony), and development agendas tied to the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda.

History

The council traces roots to colonial-era administrative structures such as the Ashanti Confederacy intermediary bodies and the Gold Coast Colony provincial councils established under the Native Authorities Ordinance. Post-independence reforms under the Convention People's Party and the Nkrumah administration reshaped regional governance, followed by adjustments during the National Liberation Council era and the Provisional National Defence Council reforms. Democratic constitutional arrangements enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and subsequent legislation formalized regional coordinating councils, aligning them with institutions like the Ghana Audit Service and the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

Mandate and Functions

Statutory responsibilities derive from the Local Government Act, 1993 (Ghana) and related instruments, requiring coordination between the Ministry of Finance (Ghana), the Ministry of Health (Ghana), and sector agencies including the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana Health Service, and the Ghana Fire Service. The council facilitates implementation of programs from the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, supervises investments by entities like the Ghana Cocoa Board and interacts with donors such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. It also mediates between traditional institutions like the Manhyia Palace and statutory bodies including the Environmental Protection Agency (Ghana) on land-use, resource management, and infrastructure priorities affecting projects linked to the Kumasi Airport Development Project and the Ghana Railways Development Project.

Organizational Structure

The council comprises the Regional Minister (Ghana), deputies, and representatives of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies including members from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Obuasi Municipal Assembly, and Asokore Mampong Municipal District. It interacts with technical directors from the Ghana Statistical Service, the Ghana Health Service regional directorate, and security representatives from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces. Supporting units mirror national agencies such as the National Disaster Management Organization and the Ghana Revenue Authority for fiscal coordination.

Membership and Appointment

Members include political appointees and elected officials: the Regional Minister (Ghana) appointed by the President of Ghana, Members of Parliament from constituencies like Kumasi South and Obuasi West, and unit committee representatives drawn from assemblies like the Asokwa Municipal Assembly. Traditional leaders such as representatives of the Asante Traditional Council and the Council of State (Ghana) may attend in advisory roles. Secretarial and technical appointments follow civil service protocols associated with the Public Services Commission (Ghana).

Meetings and Decision-Making

Council sittings are chaired by the Regional Minister (Ghana), with quorum and procedure influenced by directives from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (Ghana). Decisions are coordinated with sector ministries including the Ministry of Education (Ghana), the Ministry of Health (Ghana), and the Ministry of Roads and Highways (Ghana), and are subject to oversight by the Auditor-General of Ghana and parliamentary committees such as the Local Government and Rural Development Committee. Emergency convenings involve agencies like the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organization.

Relationship with Central and Local Government

The council functions as an intermediary between the President of Ghana's administration and local assemblies including the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, coordinating fiscal transfers from the Ministry of Finance (Ghana) and conditional grants overseen by the Ghana Revenue Authority. It works alongside the Ghana Statistical Service for planning, liaises with the Ghana Education Service on school provisioning, and coordinates security responses with the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces. The council’s role is complementary to the Regional Administrative Tribunal and interfaces with national development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme.

Projects and Development Initiatives

The council facilitates regional projects spanning infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture with partners like the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and bilateral agencies including the United States Agency for International Development and the European Union. Notable initiatives include collaboration on road upgrades tied to the Kumasi-Tamale Road, health facility improvements linked to the Ghana Health Service reform programs, and agricultural extension projects with the Ghana Cocoa Board and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Ghana). It also supports urban renewal efforts in Kumasi related to the Kumasi Sanitation and Water Project and tourism promotion connected to cultural sites like the Manhyia Palace and the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation heritage.

Category:Organisations based in Ashanti Region Category:Government agencies of Ghana