The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with support from the European Union, has stepped up a nationwide civic education campaign on the Local Government System.
The move is to help enhance public awareness on the concept of the local governance with emphasis on the structures, roles of the Unit Committee and District Assembly members.
Speaking at a meeting held atat Kadjebi in the Volta Region, Mr Kenneth Kponor, the Volta Regional Director of the NCCE, said the programme sought to rekindle community participation in the activities of local government units at the grassroots level.
He said the country was not reaping the full benefit of the local government system due to apathy by the citizenry, adding that the high level of disinterest has implications for effective grassroots participation and inclusive development.
He said there was the need for a holistic assessment to understand and find solutions to the reasons for low patronage of citizens at the local level.
Mr Daniel Agbesi Latsu, the Kadjebi District Director of the NCCE, called on Ghanaians to demonstrate patriotism and to be fully committed to their civic duties, by getting involved in the decision-making process of the state at all levels.
He said the participatory democracy occurs when the citizenry realise the need to contribute to the decision-making process and did not sit on the fence only to engage in the ‘blame game’ if things went wrong.
Mr Latsu said the stated aim of the Local Government Law, 1988 (PNDC Law 207) which introduced the District Assembly Concept was “to promote popular participation and ownership of the machinery of government by devolving power, competence and resources/means at the district level”.
Mr Joseph Kwadwo Ofori, the Member of Parliament for Akan Constituency, said it was obvious that the lower structures of the local government system were not working.
He urged the assembly members not to lose sight of the fact that development was inclusive hence the need to bring all on board in the fight against poverty, hunger, and diseases.
Mr Jimah Yakubu, the Kadjebi District Coordinating Director, called on all stakeholders to enhance the district assembly concept by making the sub-structures of the assembly functional.
Mr Yakubu, who spoke on the topic: “the inter- relationship between the Unit Committee, Area /Town/ Urban Councils and the Assembly member”, said the relationship between the Assembly members, the councils and unit committees should not be a master-servant one but rather they should assist and mutually benefit from each other.
He said the councils and unit committees formed important structures through which various communities have opportunities to relate to the assemblies.
Similar programmes have been held at Ho, Kpando, Jasikan, Nkwanta, Keta, Kete-Krachi and Hohoe.
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