Create space for civic engagement – NGO

The Programmes Manager of the Development Research Centre (DRAC), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Bolgatanga, Mr Milton Aberinga, has urged district and municipal assemblies to create the space for civic engagement, saying it is the key foundation for civic participation in governance.

He said that social accountability would be effective only if government authorities implemented the local governance system in Ghana and strongly urged authorities to allow civil society to provide feedback and information about their activities.

Mr Aberinga was speaking at a Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (SPEFA) forum, organised by the NGO in Bolgatanga.

He said citizens’ participation in governance would create more room for the improvement of public service delivery and efficiency, promote a more equitable distribution of resources as well as improve information management systems.

The SPEFA project, which is a component of the Local Government Capacity Support Project, is implemented by the SNV, a Netherland Development Organization and its local partners in some metropolitan and municipal assemblies across the country.

The forum, which attracted 140 participants had among its aims to empower the citizens at the local level, to demand accountability from public servants and to ensure that public resources were managed effectively and efficiently in response to the needs of society.

The participants were also schooled to understand the issues of leadership in the context of social accountability, appreciate the role of their Municipal Chief Executive, Municipal Coordinating Director, Presiding Member, the Member of Parliament, Assembly Members and the local government system among others.

Naba Johnson Awuni, Chief of Yorogo, a community in the Municipality, lauded the initiative of the organizers and said the project would help enhance the decentralization process.