Local government authorities

(1) There shall be local government authorities which shall have such powers as are vested in them by this Constitution and an Act of Parliament. (2) Local government authorities shall be responsible for the representation of the people over whom they have jurisdiction, for their welfare and shall have responsibility for— (a) the promotion of infrastructural and economic development, through the formulation and execution of local development plans and the encouragement of business enterprise; (b) the presentation to central government authorities of local development plans and the promotion of the awareness of local issues to national government; (c) the consolidation and promotion of local democratic institutions and democratic participation; and (d) such other functions, including the registration of births and deaths and participation in the delivery of essential and local services, as may be prescribed by any Act of Parliament. (3) Parliament shall, where possible, provide that issues of local policy and administration be decided on at local levels under the supervision of local government authorities. (4) Parliament shall ensure that the composition of local government authorities includes a prescribed number of persons serving as Chiefs in the area of jurisdiction of such authorities and affords equal representation in respect of each ward within its jurisdiction, and that the boundaries of each ward shall be designated by the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 148 . [6 of 1995] [6 of 1995; 13 of 2001]