Assembly members asked to be accountable

Yendi, Oct. 20, GNA - Members of the district assemblies have been reminded that their electorates are now widely awake to their Civic responsibilities and can hold them accountable when they make unfulfilled pledges.

The Yendi District Chief Executive Alhaji Mohammed Habib Tijani made the observation when he addressed a day's orientation workshop on sensitising the assembly members on the fundamentals of the New Local Governance System.

It was organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and sponsored by the Action Aid International. Alhaji Tijani said it behoves all assembly members to be mindful of their utterances, and actions and take informed decisions that could be implemented.

In an address read on his behalf, the Acting District Director of NCCE, Alhaji Alhassan Iddrisu Sulemana observed that although the decentralisation system had been functioning for the past 17 years, there was still high levels of ignorance, inadequate information and low grass root communities participation in decision making. He said this had resulted in a high degree of mistrust and intolerance thereby making some communities endemic conflict prone areas.

Alhaji Sulemana said sustainable development could be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and called on the participants to strive to make that a reality.

An Administrative Assistant of Action Aid, Ghana, Madam Vida Abankwa

asked the assembly members to be interested in the use of the capitation grant to encourage more parents to get their children enrolled in school, particularly the girl child.