The Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (WRCC) has pledged stronger collaboration with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to identify and address the distinct development challenges confronting communities across the region.
Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, said the Council is ready to provide the coordination and support needed to help Assemblies translate government policies into practical interventions that improve the lives of residents.
He made the commitment on Thursday, August 20, 2026, when he opened a three-day executive retreat for MMDCEs at Maaha Beach Resort in the Ellembelle District. The retreat brings together the region’s MMDCEs and officials of the WRCC to assess local governance, share experiences and develop practical approaches to improving performance and service delivery.
Mr Nelson said the engagement was particularly important because the challenges confronting the various Assemblies were not identical and required solutions responsive to their respective local circumstances. He urged the MMDCEs to use the retreat to openly identify their gaps, share successful approaches and work with the Regional Coordinating Council to find practical solutions.
“We must strengthen collaboration among the Assemblies, the Regional Co-ordinating Council, traditional authorities, development partners, the private sector, civil society and communities,” he said.
The Minister identified illegal mining, environmental degradation, sanitation, youth unemployment, flooding and infrastructure deficits among the challenges requiring stronger institutional collaboration.
He stressed that the WRCC viewed the Assemblies as partners in a single regional development effort, noting that the progress of one jurisdiction ultimately contributes to the development of the entire Western Region. “While each Assembly has its own peculiar circumstances and challenges, the progress of one district contributes to the overall development of the Western Region,” he said.
Turning government policy into local impact
Mr Nelson further described MMDCEs as the critical link between national government and citizens, saying the effectiveness of government policies would ultimately be measured by their impact at the community level.
He therefore challenged the MMDCEs to move beyond simply understanding government programmes to developing practical strategies for implementing them in ways that respond to local needs. He also called for greater community engagement, accountability and responsiveness, stressing that citizens should see their Assemblies as accessible partners in development.
According to him, the retreat should produce practical commitments that MMDCEs can take back to their respective jurisdictions rather than resolutions that remain on paper. “Our people do not expect perfection from us, but they expect sincerity, commitment, responsiveness and results,” he said.
The Minister expressed confidence that the three-day retreat would strengthen coordination between the WRCC and the Assemblies while creating a platform for peer learning, performance assessment and the development of locally relevant solutions.
He urged the MMDCEs to return to their respective Assemblies with “renewed energy and a clearer sense of purpose” to deliver measurable improvements in the lives of their constituents.
By Eric Yaw Adjei
