INSTITUTE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDIES ACT - 2003 (ACT 647)

    • (1) There is established by this Act a body to be known as the Institute of Local Government Studies.

      (2) The Institute shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

      (3) The Institute may in the performance of its functions, acquire and hold movable and immovable property and enter into any contract or other transaction.

      (4) Where the Institute has resolved and the Government has agreed that the acquisition of land or a right over land is necessary for the Institute, the land may be acquired under the State Lands Act, 1962 (Act 125)

    • The Institute shall have campuses in such places as the Council of the Institute shall determine.

    • (1) The objectives of the Institute are.

      (a) to provide tertiary education in the academic disciplines of accountancy and management;

      (b) to undertake the education and training of professional accountants, marketers and persons in other related fields of management;

      (c) to provide continuing management education and specialist training for professional accountants and business executives;

      (d) to promote accounting and management practice through research, seminars, lectures and other related activities; and

      (e) offer courses leading to the award of certificates, diplomas, higher national diplomas and degrees subject to such conditions as the authorities responsible for tertiary education shall direct.

      (2) The Institute shall have power to.

      (a) award such certificates and diplomas as may be agreed upon by the Institute of Professional Studies Council established under section 3 of this Act with the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations;

      (b) provide for the general welfare, recreational and social needs of staff and students of the Institute; and

      (c) do any other acts which are incidental to the performance of its functions.

    • The objectives of the Institute are to organize the training of

      (a) members of the Regional Co-ordinating Councils, District Assemblies and lower local government units;

      (b) staff and personnel in the local government and related sectors; and

      (c) any other person or body, local or foreign interested in governance,

      to enhance the managerial, administrative, financial and operational efficiency of organs and units of local government.

    • (1) For the purpose of attaining its objectives, the Institute shall perform the following functions:

      (a) arrange courses, workshops, seminars and conferences for persons engaged in areas of local government;

      (b) prescribe the qualification of persons eligible for training at the Institute;

      (c) undertake and promote research in local government;

      (d) develop training materials for members of the Regional Co-ordinating Councils, District Assemblies, and other local government units;

      (e) publish literature relevant to local government;

      (f) develop specialized libraries for purposes of local government;

      (g) provide consultancy and advisory services to the Central Government, units of local government and any other body that may require those services;

      (h) collaborate with national and international institutions of relevance in the performance of its functions; and

      (i) perform other functions assigned to it by the Minister.

      (2) The Institute may award certificates, diplomas and higher qualifications as may be agreed upon by the Institute and approved by the National Accreditation Board.

    • (1) The governing body of the Institute shall be the Council composed of the following:

      (a) a chairperson;

      (b) the Director of the Institute;

      (c) one representative of the Ministry of Local Government, not below the rank of Director; and

      (d) one person not below the rank of a Director in the Public Services representing each of the following:

      (i) the National Development Planning Commission;

      (ii) the National Association of Local Government Authorities of Ghana;

      (iii) the Public Services Commission;

      (iv) the Local Government Service;

      (v) the National Council for Tertiary Education; and

      (vi) three other persons at least one of whom shall be a woman.

      (2) The chairperson and other members of the Council shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State.

    • (1) The Council shall

      (a) ensure the implementation and achievement of the objectives of the Institute;

      (b) formulate policies within the framework of the national policy on decentralization and local government for the proper management of the Institute;

      (c) approve annual estimates of income and expenditure of the Institute;

      (d) manage the properties, business and funds of the Institute; and

      (e) perform any other functions which are incidental to the achievement of the objectives of the Institute.

      (2) The Board shall in the performance of its functions consult the Minister in matters of policy.

    • (1) The Council shall meet for the dispatch of business at a time and place the Council may determine but shall meet at least once every three months.

      (2) The chairperson shall upon the request of not less than one-third of the membership of the Council convene a special meeting of the Council.

      (3) The quorum at a meeting of the Council shall be six members and shall include the Director of the Institute or the person acting in that capacity.

      (4) The chairperson shall preside at meetings of the Council and in the absence of the chairperson, a member of the Council elected by the members present from among their number shall preside.

      (5) Questions before the Council shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting and in the event of equality of votes the chairperson or the person presiding shall have a casting vote.

      (6) The Council may co-opt any person to act as an adviser at its meetings but a co-opted person is not entitled to vote at the meeting.

      (7) The validity of the proceedings of the Council shall not be affected by a vacancy among its members or by a defect in the appointment or qualification of a member.

      (8) Except as otherwise provided under this section, the Council shall determine and regulate the procedure for its meetings.

    • The Council may for purposes of achieving the object of the Institute appoint committees of the Council comprising members of the Council or non-members or both and may assign to them such functions of the Council as the Council may determine.

    • Members of the Council and members of committees of the Council shall be paid such allowances as shall be determined by the Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance.

    • (1) There shall be appointed by the Council a Director for the Institute.

      (2) The Director of the Institute shall hold office

      (a) for a period not exceeding two terms of five years each; and

      (b) on such other conditions as shall be specified in the letter of appointment.

      (3) The Director shall, subject to such directives as the Council may give, be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Institute and shall

      (a) exercise general authority over the academic and administrative staff of the Institute;

      (b) co-ordinate and implement the programmes of the Institute; and

      (c) submit annual reports of the activities of the Institute to the Board.

    • (1) The Institute shall have a Registrar who shall be appointed by the Council.

      (2) The Registrar shall

      (a) be the Secretary to the Council;

      (b) record and keep the minutes of the meetings of the Council; and

      (c) perform such other functions as the Council or the Director of the Institute may direct.

      (3) The Registrar shall hold office on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Council.

    • (1) The Council may appoint such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the proper and effective achievement of the objectives of the Institute.

      (2) The terms and conditions of service of officers and all employees of the Institute shall be determined by the Council.

      (3) Officers and employees of the Institute shall perform such functions as the Council or the Director of the Institute shall direct.

      (4) Other public officers may be transferred or seconded to the Institute with the approval of the Council.

      (5) The Council may engage the services of such consultants and advisers as it may determine.

    • (1) The funds of the Institute shall include

      (a) annual budgetary allocation made to the Institute by Parliament;

      (b) fees accruing to the Institute in the course of the performance of its functions consisting of

      (i) fees paid by course participants at the Institute;

      (ii) fees, charges and dues in respect of services rendered by or through the Institute;

      (iii) proceeds of the sale of publications of the Institute; and

      (c) donations, gifts and income from any other source approved by the Minister and the Minister for Finance.

      (2) Any sum of money received by or on behalf of the Institute shall be paid into an account of the Institute opened by the Council with the approval of the Accountant-General.

    • Subject to article 181 of the Constitution and any other enactment, the Council may obtain loans and other credit facilities on the guarantee of the Government from such bank and other institutions as the Minister may approve.

    • The Director shall prepare budget estimates and a statement of assets and liabilities of the Institute for each financial year and present the estimates to the Council for its consideration and approval not later than two months before the end of the financial year.

    • (1) The Council shall keep books of account and proper records in relation to them in a form approved by the Auditor-General.

      (2) The books and accounts of the Institute shall be audited by the Auditor-General or an auditor appointed by the Auditor-General within six months after the end of each financial year.

      (3) The financial year of the Institute shall be the same as the financial year of the Government.

    • The Minister may, on the advice of the Council by legislative instrument make Regulations to give effect to the provisions of this Act.

    • In this Act unless the context otherwise requires

      "Council" means the Council of Governors for the Institute established under section 5 of this Act;

      "District Assembly" includes Municipal and Metropolitan Assembly;

      "Institute" means the Institute of Local Government Studies established under section 1 of this Act;

      "Minister" means the Minister for the time being charged with responsibility for local government;

      "National Accreditation Board" means the National Accreditation Board established under the National Accreditation Board Law, 1993 (P.N.D.C.L. 317).