Report by Ben LARYEA
The Programmes Manager of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mrs Mary Awelana Addah has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive (MMDAs) to engage the citizenry in the operations of the Assemblies and bring to bear the disbursement of financial resources for developmental projects.
According to her, the inclusion of the citizens in governance at the local level will also curb corruption in the discharge of works and enhance production and services effectively and efficiently.
Mrs. Mary Awelana Addah made the call at a stakeholders programme on the topic “Increasing Citizens Power to Demand Accountability From Duty Bearers” in Accra.
The programme was organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative in partnership with the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) to build the capacity of representatives from various Assemblies in order to be results oriented, reduce corruption as well as enhancing good governance at the MMDAs.
In attendance were participants from the Metropolitan, Municipal, Districts Assemblies (MMDAs), Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Youth Groups among others and supported by the Danish Internal Development Agency (DANIDA) in partnership with the Ghana Development Communities Association.
The Programmes Manager challenged the citizenry to continue to engage the Assemblies on developmental projects and ensure that it is carried out in a transparent manner to demonstrate value for money.
For his part, the Director General of Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Dr. Eric Oduro Osae in a speech read on his behalf said the Agency have initiated steps to roll out modules to help Metropolitan, Municipal, District Assemblies implement policies to support the discharge of their duties efficiently.
According to him, the IAA in this regard instituted Public Financial Management league table to that effect to ensure proper monitoring and supervision of the works of the Assemblies.
In a presentation, Mr. Philip Gmabi, Technical Advisor, Policy and Governance at GDCA, urged MMDAs to involve the community members on all ongoing projects to enable them be abreast with the respective progress of works at the various Assemblies.
He however called for periodic encounter of the community with the Assemblies to account for their stewardship to the people, stressing that it promotes good governance and accountability at the local level.
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