In the furtherance of camaraderie and efforts to resolve specific decentralization challenges in the country, the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana,  Gerhard Brugger and his counterpart  Economic Counsellor cum head of Cooperation, Bridgitte Cuendet have held bilateral discussion with the sector minister on prudent usage of the District Development Facility (DDF).

The Envoys requested the Local Government Ministry to inform them as to how the facility offered the sector for urban development in the previous year had fared since they were yet to receive the annual report.

They expressed reservations about the absence of harmony in government’s development priorities questioning for instance, why colossal resources could be allotted for electricity than water – among others – and urged government to be decisive in its urban development priorities so development partners might adopt an aspect like fiscal decentralization.

The Swiss however pledged their readiness to offer assistance in the areas of infrastructure and transportation.

The sector minister Julius Debrah lauded the Swiss government for its invaluable economic support and stressed the need for prudent management of the DDF by all local government practitioners.

In reaction to concerns observed by the head of Environmental Sanitation to the effect that, the sanitation sector in Ghana currently was no longer viable and attractive to the private sector, hence waste management being the major headache of government; Mr. Debrah requested support from his Swiss Envoys adding however that, “the support does not have to be necessarily governmental – it could come in the form of Swiss micro independent financing of urban development……”

The Chief Director of the Ministry Charles Dondieu among other Directors present took turns to contribute to the discourse that centered on the need for review of urban development.