Citizens and government to work in unison

Mr. Martin Dery, Director of ProNet North, a non-governmental organization, has said there was the need for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the government to work together in unison to achieve sustainable development for the citizenry.

He said CSOs working together in unison with the government would help reduce duplication of efforts and enhance better targeting of development programmes, projects and resources.

Mr. Dery was speaking during a forum to deepen the understanding of stakeholders on the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) that Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsoh, a former Upper West Regional Minister, was initiated two years ago.

ProNet North, under its $50,000 Star-Ghana sponsored project dubbed “Deeping Citizen’s participation in governance in the Upper West Region” organised the forum.

Mr. Dery said the project would also strengthen the capacity of Upper West Network of NGOs (UPNET) as well as CSOs to enable them monitor the implementation of the RDS in the various districts.

He said the idea was not to interfere in the activities of District Assemblies but rather to enhanced their collaboration for better results in the implementation of the RDS.

Mr. Ben Dery, a Deputy Director at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), said the RDS sought to expose the strengths and weaknesses and how best they could engage their partners to tap on their strengths in order to strengthen their weaknesses to enhance development.

He said already the direct benefit of the RDS was the implementation of the Sustainable Rural Water Project that is being sponsored by the World Bank.

Mr. Dery said though there had been changes in leadership it was still necessary for all stakeholders to refocus and ensure the effective working of the RDS.

He urged stakeholders to deliberate on how to retool their activities in unison with the RCC to avoid duplication of efforts in their quest to bring development to the people.