Politicization of assembly concept affecting development

Nkoranza (B/A), May 16, GNA - A retired civil servant, on Friday observed that politicization of the District Assembly concept has defeated its objective and was affecting community development.

Mr. Yaw Effah-Manu, a retired Nkoranza District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) said even though elections to the Assemblies were non-partisan, 93It has been observed that politicians have managed to manipulate the concept as they sponsor candidates to the Assemblies".


He made the observation at a forum organized by the Commission for over 30 stakeholders at Nkoranza on 93The Process of the Decentralization System".


The event aimed at finding out whether the system had gone down with the people and that they were playing their respective roles as stakeholders towards the development of their communities.


Mr. Effah-Manu said: 93The political party in power sponsor candidates to win their support in the Assemblies whilst those in opposition also encourage their candidates to go and oppose policies and plans of the District Chief Executives" and the people are the end losers.


He said that Assembly Members of today did not get full support of the people they were suppose to represent because they tended to identify or associate themselves with one political party orb the other.

That made it difficult for them to function effectively since many of them became divisive characters and unable to mobilize the people for development programmes.


Very Reverend John Quayson, Superintendent Minister in-charge of the Nkoranza Circuit of the Methodist Church, called on officials of the Commission to liaise with religious leaders so as to use the pulpit to inform their congregation on the policies of the Government.


He asked Assembly Members to be neutral in rendering services to the people for unity and development.


Mr. Ishak Dakwa, Nkoranza South District Director of the Commission, complained that inadequate funding was drawing back the efforts of the Commission.


Participants urged the NCCE to embark on vigorous educational campaign to educate people to avoid playing politics with the development of their areas since that practice, if checked could have adverse effect on the people's living standards.