Assembly Members must be accountable to the people

The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has advised Ghanaians to demand accountability from their assembly members.

Mrs Lucille Annang, the NCCE Greater Accra Regional Director, who gave the advice, said Ghanaians must ensure that their assembly members consulted them all issue especially, those on development.

Mrs Annang was speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on the district level elections for the Ningo-Prampram District, organized by the NCCE, with support from the European Union.

She explained that assembly members where mandated to meet with residents before attending assembly meetings to gather information on their needed issues.

She added that they were expected to give feedback to people after assembly meetings as they serve as a liaison between the people and the assemblies.

Mrs Annang urged assembly members to regularly meet their electorates just as they do during election periods to educate them on the local governance system.

She suggested that assembly members could take advantage of religious meetings, residents’ association meetings and other social gatherings to meet the people.

According to her, it was unfortunate that members shirk their responsibility with the excuse that funds were not allocated to them for such activities.

The NCCE director wondered why the same people seek re-election even though they complain of getting nothing from the assembly.

She cautioned them to desist from putting unnecessary pressure on themselves by taking on responsibilities outside their mandates.

Mrs Annang reminded Ghanaians that apart from some allowances given to assembly members, their work was voluntary.

She added that no allocation was given to the assembly members to pay school fees, medical bills or food.

She pleaded with men to give the needed support to women aspirants to enable women participate in governance.

Mrs Gifty Badu, the Ningo-Prampram District NCCE Director, lamented about the dwindling national voter turnout for the district level elections over the years.

Mrs Badu noted for instance that in 1994 it was 29.3 per cent, 41, 33.1 and 39.3 per cent during the 1996, 2002 and 2006 in that order.

She said since Ghana was practicing participatory democracy, electorates must be encouraged to vote during the March 3 election.

She reminded Ghanaians that participating in the elections meant being part of the country's governance system as the assembly was the first point of call for development and governance.

She stated that district assemblies have three mandates being deliberative, administrative and legislative.

Mrs Badu urged Ghanaians to massively come out to vote on March 3, as it was a civic responsibility and right to vote for people who would champion their cause.