By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Bongo (U/E), March 2, GNA – The Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana), a local human rights and sustainable non-governmental organization, has organized a public education forum on political party manifesto tracking in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region.
The forum, which brought together women and youth groups, queen mothers, Assembly members, persons with disabilities, and staff of the Bongo District Assembly, were equipped with skills to hold their elected leaders accountable based on the campaign promises they made prior to the 2024 elections.
The forum formed part of RISE-Ghana’s Democracy 360 project, being implemented in Bongo, Bolgatanga Central, and Nabdam District, under the STAR-Ghana-led Inclusive Elections and Accountable Governance programme funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Mr John Kaguna, Project Officer of RISE-Ghana, who addressed constituents, noted that once political parties make promises about what they would do when elected, it becomes a social contract between them and the constituents, for which they must be held accountable to fulfill.
He said elections go beyond the casting of votes to holding leaders accountable for the promises upon which they were elected, and it was important for the constituents to demand accountability from their Member of Parliament (MP) to enhance development in the area for their well-being.
Mr Henry Adeenza Agaabil, the District Director of the Electoral Commission, speaking on the topic “Understanding and Utilizing Party Manifestoes for Post-Election Accountability and Improved Service Delivery,” indicated that though the Commission had a mandate to check the source of political funding, it did not include holding political parties accountable.
He therefore lauded RISE-Ghana for the idea of equipping constituents with the knowledge of accountability for good governance and called on the constituents to hold their elected leaders accountable for their own benefit and the advancement of development.
Mr Michael Asampana, the Inter-sectoral Committee Secretary of Democracy 360 project, also speaking on “Public Education on Tracking Party Manifestoes and the Role of the Citizens,” said citizens must show concern by treating elected leaders as their employees and demand for accountability.
He emphasized that the Inter-Sectoral Committee, which comprised members of political parties, persons with disabilities, Civil Society Organisations and the media, was committed to ensuring they leveraged support of constituents to hold the three MPs in the various constituencies accountable.
Alhaji Ibrahim Habila, Bongo District Coordinating Director, commended RISE-Ghana for leading the initiative to hold political leaders accountable to ensure good governance.
He charged the constituents to go beyond holding elected leaders accountable to also monitor contractors who have been awarded contracts in the district for various projects, to understand what the projects entailed and ensure they were executed as planned.
Pognab Christiana Ngeh, the Paramount Queen Mother of Bongo, thanked RISE-Ghana and its partners for the initiative and pledged her full support for the success of the project.
GNA