In a major administrative shake-up, the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service has authorised key postings of senior Regional Coordinating Directors across Ghana.
The most significant shift for our local community is the official deployment of Mr Damma Shaiku Mumuni to the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council. This move officially ends a prolonged period of temporary leadership, bringing in a fully certified, substantive administrator to steer the region’s development.
The official directive, signed by the Head of Service, Prof. Lord Mensah, orders an immediate nationwide movement of seasoned administrative heads. While multiple regions are affected, the changes here in the Upper West Region demand the closest attention.
For too long, the Upper West Region has navigated critical socio-economic challenges under an acting administration. Local governance experts argue that this setup has seriously limited our executive power and slowed down progress.
In Ghanaian local government, an Acting Regional Coordinating Director operates under tight structural restrictions. By law and tradition, temporary heads often lack the formal grading and long-term security needed to fully command the regional civil service.
Because their authority is temporary, acting heads are prone to bureaucratic stagnation. They cannot easily make high-stakes financial commitments or implement major structural and disciplinary changes, which historically has been a recipe for administrative inertia.
The transfer of Mr Damma Shaiku Mumuni from his role at the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly to the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council completely changes this dynamic. As a fully certified, permanent Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Mumuni carries the full legal, administrative, and political weight needed to get things done.
He will now serve as the official head of the Regional Administrative Secretariat, the chief advisor to the Upper West Regional Minister, and the primary accounting officer for the entire region.
Unlike an acting counterpart, a permanent director possesses an uncompromised executive mandate. This gives them the clear authority to command absolute compliance across all Municipal and District Assemblies in the region.
Furthermore, a secured tenure allows the new director to draft, fund, and oversee multi-year development projects without the fear of abrupt disruptions. This permanent leadership also establishes stability across the regional workforce, boosting civil servant morale and driving everyday operational efficiency.
Full permanent authority also allows for tighter management of financial auditing and budgetary allocations. This ensures transparency and helps stop the financial leakages that often plague temporary administrations.
With the official mandate requesting the immediate release and reporting of these officers, the Upper West Region stands on the edge of an administrative rebirth. Mr Damma Shaiku Mumuni’s formal arrival breaks the cycle of temporary, restricted leadership of the past.
As the Upper West Region focuses on expanding infrastructure, securing our borders, and aligning with national socio-economic policies, the arrival of a substantive Regional Coordinating Director ensures that our regional engine is finally fully powered, legally backed, and fit for purpose.
