NGOs educate public on district assembly development plans

A sensitization workshop aimed at building the capacity of people to enable them to hold Municipal and District Assemblies accountable to their development plans and the disbursement of the District Assembly Common Fund, has been held in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region.

The workshop also sought to improve the quality of life of people through increased access and utilization of the District Assembly Common Fund, especially the marginalized.

The event was jointly organised by Send Ghana and PRIDE, both non-governmental organisations, and attended by Assembly Members, women, traditional authorities, the youth and vulnerable groups.

The workshop was also meant to deepen citizens’ participation in development plans and projects of Assemblies and to enhance effective use of the District Assembly Common Fund.

Mr Eugene Yirbuor, Senior Project Officer, Send Ghana, said there were delays in the implementation of projects by some assemblies due to late transfer of the Common Fund.

Mr Bawa Agana, Assembly Member for Tindonmolga Electoral Area, near Bolgatanga, said the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly had not been able to educate members on the true value of the Common Fund and the expenditure made on assembly projects.

He said the decentralization system could not achieve its full import if power given to people was taken away from them.

Mr Agana said it was incumbent on assembly members to educate the people on these developments in the municipality, and propose community meetings with their Members of Parliament, District Chief Executives and Assembly Members regularly to give information on developmental projects to the people.**