Citizens empowered to query assemblies’ devt plan

The people of Ga West Municipality, have been taken through the decentralisation concept and social accountability mechanism, vesting them with relevant information to question assembly officials on development plans affecting their livelihoods.

Speaking at the second Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability forum, Mr Kojo Anane, Programme Officer of People’s Dialogue said citizens have the constitutional right and responsibility to query the assemblies about what they are doing to better their lots.

He noted that development is a shared responsibility among central government, local governments, parastatals, non-governmental organisations and the people; the ultimate beneficiaries of development, adding “all of whom must be closely linked”.

He said, sadly, in many instances, the link among these bodies is loose due to poor communication and participation of citizens in the activities and decision-making process of the assemblies.

Ghana’s decentralisation process was initiated in 1988 when the PNDC Law 207 provided legal and institutional direction to constitute the first District Assemblies, and this process was given a boost when the Local Government Act 1993, Act 462, was passed.

Mr Anane said, though, the decentralisation concept has become a household name with Ghana being ranked 6th out of 52 African countries, according to Ibrahim Index of African Government, more needs to be done.

“It has been so effective that several African countries have been attracted to come to Ghana to study our local governance system, “he added.

However, Mr Anane told Ghana News Agency that participation of citizens in the assemblies’ decision-making process is not encouraging while effective functioning of assembly members and Unit Committees remain problematic apparently owing to insufficient or no financial support.

He said as agents of social accountability, citizens ought to be well organised, interested, informed and willing to participate in local development governance.

He said social accountability thrives on government committed to fostering transparency, participation and accountability as well as an active media that readily make information available to both government and citizens.

Mr Anane observed that poverty could hardly be reduced in Ghana unless deliberate efforts are made to strengthen social accountability within the decentralisation system at all level of development.

He said decentralisation is more beneficial if it is accompanied by pro-active efforts to involve citizens and stimulate pro-accountability process.

Social accountability is one of the key elements of local governance, which brings the full benefit of citizens’ participation and development to the decentralised local government system, Mr Anane observed.