CDD holds Forum on Accountability

The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), is organizing public fora, as part of efforts to promote citizens' participation in electoral governance, and to enhance MPs accountability and responsiveness at the grassroots.

Addressing one of such fora at Half Assini in the Jomoro District, Mr Edward Fokuoh Ampratwum, Senior Research Officer, said CDD is implementing a post-2012 election programme, aimed at facilitating interactions between Members of Parliament and their constituents.

The forum was attended by traditional authorities, Assembly Members, Civil Society Organizations, and a cross-section of people from the district.

According to him, these interactions would help constituents and other stakeholders appreciate the performance of their MPs, and deepen relationship among them.

It would also promote citizens’ engagement in grassroots democratic processes, and promote accountability at the constituency level, he said.

He said the programme was not to undermine MPs, but with intent that community groups, citizens, media stations and others will use it to demand accountability from all successful parliamentary aspirants.

The Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Wing Commander, (retired) Francis Kabenlah Anaman, giving his stewardship at the forum, attributed lack of communication to his inability to attend Assembly meetings regularly.

According to him, about 65 brilliant but needy students have been awarded scholarships to continue their education to the tertiary and Universities, under his Social Intervention Fund.

He said the Tikobo Number One Health Centre would be upgraded to a Polyclinic, and a new one built at Ghana Nungua, adding that CHIP Compounds would be built at Ahobre Number One and Sowodadzemu.

Mr Francis Obeng Boampong, Jomoro District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) said accountability was a catch-word in all societal settings, and a pre-requisite in the democratic dispensation.