The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (UERCC) is a statutory body established by the Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462) and is the highest policy-making body of the region representing the entire political and administrative machinery of the central government at the regional level the council is made up of the following;
THE REGIONAL MINISTER
The Regional Minister provides political leadership and guidance in the efficient and effective performance of the UERCC in implementing government policies.
THE DEPUTY REGIONAL MINISTER
The Deputy Regional Minister supports the Regional Minister in administering the region through the medium of the UERCC and acts in his absence.
THE REGIONAL COORDINATING DIRECTOR/CHIEF DIRECTOR
The Chief Director is the chief advisor to the Regional Minister and has overall responsibility for the administration of the region under the general direction of the Regional Minister.
The UERCC is supported administratively and technically by a central administration and decentralized departments. The organizational structure of the UERCC:
COORDINATING DIRECTOR
The Coordinating Director deputizes for the Regional Coordinating Director in his absence. He is in charge of all administrative matters among other duties.
FINANCE UNIT
This unit is responsible for prudent financial management and proper financial records maintenance.
INTERNAL AUDIT UNIT
This unit ensures transparency and accountability in the use of state resources through compliance with financial management and accounting practices and regulation laid down by the procurement authority, internal audit agency, audit service and the financial administration act.
PLANNING UNIT
This unit provides the district planning authority with such information and data as is necessary to assist them in the formulation of district development plans and coordinates the plans and programmes of the district planning authorities within the region.
BUDGET UNIT
This unit is responsible for providing the technical support expertise to the assemblies in the preparation of their budgets and preparing and monitoring the annual budgets of the UERCC.
WORKS UNIT
The unit supervises RCC’s projects and undertakes repairs of RCC’s estates.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UNIT
The unit coordinates and monitors environmental activities and officers in the region including water quality.
PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT
This unit evolves strategies and machinery for explaining, promoting and monitoring public understanding and goodwill of government policies and activities of the council. The unit ensures free flow of information between the RCC and the public.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
This unit is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the IT resources including websites, Email Service, Local Area Network, Databases, and Computer Hardware and Software of the UERCC’s
Functions of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (UERCC)
- Monitor, coordinate and evaluate the performance of the district assemblies in the region.
- Monitor the use of all monies allocated to the district assemblies by any agency of the central government.
- Review and coordinate public services generally in the region.
The Regional Coordinating Council is also responsible for the following functions:
- Intra-regional postings of staff of the office of the district assemblies and departments of the district assemblies to the district assemblies in the region by the office of the Head of Service.
- Approve the bye-laws of the district assemblies in the region provided that the Regional Coordinating Council may delegate its power of approval to a 3 member committee comprising the Regional Coordinating Director, a representative of the Attorney General’s Department in the region and the Regional Local Government Inspector.
- Provide back-stopping support for the performance of any function assigned to the District Assemblies in the region in respect of which a particular district assembly is deficient in terms of skills and manpower.
- Resolve any conflicts between a district assembly in the region and any agency of the Central Government, Public Corporation, Statutory body, Non-Governmental Organization or individual.
- On behalf of the Ministries of Education and Health, have oversight responsibility for second cycle educational institutions and regional hospitals in the region.
- Perform and other functions assigned to it by or under any enactment.
PLANNING FUNCTIONS OF THE UPPER EAST REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL:
- Provide the District Planning Authority with such information and data as is necessary to assist them in the formulation of district development plans.
- Coordinate the plans and programmes of the district planning authorities within the region;
- Act on behalf of the planning commission with respect to such national programmes and projects in the region as the commission may direct.
- Perform such other planning functions as may be assigned to it by the commission.
MEETINGS OF THE UPPER EAST REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL:
- The Regional Coordinating Council meets at least once in a year but holds other meetings as it considers necessary at such times and in such places as determined by the chairman.
- The Regional Minister convenes the meetings of the Regional Coordinating Council.
- The Regional Minister may by notice to members convene a special meeting of the council at the time and place and for the purpose specified in the notice convening the meeting.
- The Regional Minister presides at the meetings of the council and in his absence, the Deputy Minister presides.
- Questions at a meeting of the council are decided by a simple majority of the members present and voting and where the votes are equal, the person presiding have a casting vote.
- The quorum at a meeting of the council is one third of the membership of the council, excluding the heads of the regional departments.
- 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.
- The Regional Coordinating Council regulates the procedures for the meetings o the council.