NCCE urges increased public participation in local governance

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called for increased public participation in the local governance system to enable the people to shape their own development.

Mr. Samuel Otchere, the Asante-Akim South District Director of the Commission, said that was the way to promote transparency in the management of financial resources and accountability.

He was speaking at a community durbar held at Dwendwenase, to educate the people on the roles played by the assembly member and the unit committees.

He asked them to overcome apathy and keenly follow the programmes and activities of the assembly and its sub-structures.

Mr. Otchere also called for strong backing for the assembly members and the unit committees, noting that, this would enable their concerns to be properly articulated at the assembly meetings.

He again reminded the assembly members to make sure that they stayed in close contact with those they were representing - regularly consult them on their felt needs.

Mr. Patrick Asare, a Civic Education Officer, spoke of the need effective collaboration between the elected representatives and the chiefs for smooth development of the communities.

He warned that any attempt to sideline the traditional authorities would not be helpful to efforts at ensuring local good governance.

Nana Kwame Baafi, the assembly member for the community, praised the NCCE for the programme and said it had been most useful.