The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is committing over one million dollars grant to some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the Western Region.

The money is expected to be used to undertake advocacy work to increase awareness and participation of the citizenry in local governance.

Mr. Peter Fricker, Chief of Party of the Local Governance and Decentralisation Programme (LOGODEP), said the small grants component is an integral part of LOGODEP’s efforts to assist CSOs to advocate better concerning issues of decentralisation.

Beneficiaries of the small grants would work in the areas of health, youth and women empowerment, disability, education and accountability at the assemblies in the Region.

Mr. Fricker said by the close of the final batch of grantees, the programme would have disbursed US$ 9992,536 to CSOs.

Awulae Annor Adjaye III, President of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, said local governance was one key area to developing communities in the region and appealed to beneficiaries to spend the grants judiciously to achieve results.

Mr. Osei Boateng, member of the selection team who stood in for the Western Regional Minister, said development could not be achieved in isolation and lauded USAID contribution in enhancing the country’s local governance system.