By:tntnewspaprgh.com
The Presiding Members (PMs) of the various Metropolitan,Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) acroas the country, have been urged to ensure that their leadership inspire trust, promote transparency and ensure voices of their people are heard and reflected in every decision making they make.
Mr.Patrick Kwame Frimpong, the Dean of Ashanti conference of Presiding Members, who doubles as the Presiding Member for Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA),who made the called said leading change requires vision, courage, and commitment.
Participants in a group photograph
And it demands that “we rise above partisanship and personal interests to champion the collective good of our communities.”.
Mr.Frimpong, who is the elected Assembly member for the Krofrom East electoral area, was speaking at the annual conference of the PMs held from Wednesday, 5th to Friday, 7th August,2026 at Miklin hotel in Kumasi.
The conference was under the theme “Leading change at the grassroots:The role of Presiding members.”
He said Presiding Members occupy a strategic position within Ghana’s local governance system and must rise above partisan interests to champion the collective good of their communities.
According to him, the conference provides an opportunity for Presiding Members to reflect on their responsibilities, exchange ideas and strengthen their capacity to deliver effective leadership in their respective Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Mr. Patrick Kwame Frimpong noted that Presiding Members are not merely chairpersons of assembly meetings but are catalysts for development, unity, and transformation within their local communities.
He explained that their constitutional mandate places them at the centre of local governance, where they are expected to ensure fairness during assembly deliberations while fostering consensus among Assembly Members and other stakeholders.
Mr.Patrick Kwame Frimpong in a chat with Mr.Kwadwo Adjei Darko
“As presiding members, we occupy a unique and strategic position within our local governance structure. We are not only custodians of order and fairness in our Assemblies but also catalysts for development, unity, and transformation at the grassroots level,” he stated.
He said genuine leadership should inspire confidence, promote transparency, and guarantee that the concerns and aspirations of citizens are reflected in decisions taken by District Assemblies.
According to him, grassroots development can only be achieved when local leaders demonstrate integrity and work in the collective interest of the people.
Mr. Patrick Kwame Frimpong therefore urged Presiding Members to strengthen collaboration with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Assembly Members and other development partners to improve local governance.
Mr Patrick Kwame Frimpong
He also encouraged them to embrace innovation, strengthen accountability, and uphold the principles of good governance in all their activities.“Change begins with us.
It starts with how we preside over meetings, how we build consensus, how we engage Assembly Members, and how we collaborate with our Chief Executives and other stakeholders,” he emphasised
.He observed that the quality of leadership demonstrated by Presiding Members would significantly influence the pace of development within their districts.Describing the conference as timely and relevant.
Mr. Frimpong said it offers participants a valuable platform to assess their performance, share practical experiences and acquire new knowledge to improve their effectiveness.He encouraged participants to actively contribute to discussions, exchange best practices and use lessons learnt to improve governance in their respective Assemblies.
He further urged Presiding Members to renew their commitment to public service and work towards achieving sustainable development in their districts.Commitment to Communities.
Mr. Frimpong called on all Presiding Members in the Ashanti Region to remain focused on delivering quality leadership that responds to the needs of their communities.
“Together, let us lead the change our communities deserve,” he charged, expressing confidence that the conference would inspire participants to make lasting contributions to grassroots development and strengthen Ghana’s decentralisation agenda.
The conference brought together presiding members from metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies across the Ashanti Region to deliberate on strategies for enhancing local governance, promoting accountability and advancing sustainable development at the grassroots level.
