Workshop unveils collaborative gap between MMDAs and CSOs

An assessment conducted by Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has confirmed vast collaborative gap between Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the stimulation of development at the local level.

Mrs Sandra Arthur, Programmes Officer of GACC made this known on Wednesday in Ho, on the first day of a two-day capacity building workshop for 25 representatives of CSOs from six districts in the Volta Region.

The workshop, organised by GACC, with support from UNDP was on the theme: “Promoting Participation at the Local Governance Level.”

Mrs Arthur said a major cause of the gap was the lack of trust between the MMDAs and CSOs.

She said most CSOs, especially at the local level, lacked the capacity to engage in local policies and as a result were unable to identify the level at which to engage the MMDAs.

Mrs Arthur said, until the weaknesses are tackled, it would continue to hinder effective collaboration at the local level.

She noted that the Local Government Act (462) require the assemblies to collaborate with CSOs and other entities in planning, coordinating and implementing development programmes at the local level.

Mrs Arthur said CSOs should therefore push to engage MMDAs on governance to ensure transparency and accountability.

She expressed the hope that the workshop would effectively equip the knowledge of participants on the local government system and policies, policy planning, monitoring and evaluation with emphasis on the budget processes at the local level and effective ways of engaging and collaborating with MMDAs on broadening participation in local government.

Topics treated include, understanding decentralisation in Ghana, understanding the local government system, engaging MMDAs on policy issues and policy management at the district level.