A three-day workshop on capacity building on Mass Communication skills for 60 journalists spanning Eastern and Ashanti Regions has ended in Kumasi.

It was organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) and sponsored by the World Bank.

The forum introduced participants to budget transparency, with District Assemblies’ Common Fund in context and citizens participation in Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies decision related to public budget.

The journalists basically, members of the Media Network on Social Accountability Unit of Local Government Capacity Support Project, were taken through communication skills, Local Government Budget Process, Developing a Participatory Media Campaign, identification of core issues and specific solution, group work session towards regional campaign and final campaign rollout strategies.

Mr Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye, Deputy Minister of MLGRD said the country has achieved remarkable socio-economic progress, since the implementation of the decentralisation policy. He said journalists should endeavour to reach the people at the remote areas, to help expose the difficult circumstances that they find themselves.

Mr Joseph Yammin, Deputy Regional Minister, lauded journalists who reach out to the communities, adding that without media campaign, the threat of Ebola and cholera could not be managed.

Mr Yammin said decentralised governance is expected to bring resources closer to citizens for the development of their localities.