By Emmanuel Gamson
Nkroful (W/R), Feb. 21, GNA – The Ellembelle District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a town hall meeting to sensitise residents on social auditing mechanisms to promote transparency and accountability at the local level.
The meeting, held at Nkroful, formed part of the NCCE’s two year project dubbed: “Strengthening Rule of Law and the Fight against Corruption”, that is being funded by the European Union, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), with partner agency, G.I.Z, Germany.
It brought together 41 participants drawn from various identifiable groups such as Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers’ Association, Ghana Hairdressers’ and Beauticians’ Association, National Disaster and Management Organisation (NADMO), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
Mr Samuel Aibi, the Ellembelle District NCCE Director, in his welcoming address, stated that the social auditing activities were part of the NCCE’s broader strategies and mandates to empower the people with anti-corruption mechanisms to demand transparency and accountability from duty bearers to propel community development.
He noted that one of the mechanisms put in place was the Whistle Blowers’ Act that encouraged citizens to be agents of change by reporting acts of corruption to the appropriate institutions for action.
Mr Andrews Ofori-Larbi, the Western Regional Director of the NCCE, said the social auditing engagement was to mobilise efforts and resources of stakeholders including government, individuals, CSOs, and the private sector to help fight corruption in the country.
He said: “This engagement is part of our mandate to empower the people to identify communal issues and persuade duty bearers to render proper accountability to citizens on how to resolve them.”
He noted that lack of social amenities such as toilets, refuse dumping sites, good roads, stable electricity, and potable water were some of the pertinent social issues that citizens could seek redress from duty bearers.
Mr Ofori-Larbi entreated the participants to be good citizens and be ambassadors of anti-corruption in their communities for shared posterity.
The Reverend Alex Donkoh, of the Fountain of Life Ministries, who chaired the programme, commended the NCCE for organising the event, and said social auditing was a salient tool for accountability and development in any governance process.
He said the meeting had provided a platform for the participants to be empowered to seek accountability from duty bearers in their areas.
Mr Alhassan Mohammed, the Ellembelle District Coordinating Director, praised the NCCE for the initiative, and said it would help the citizens to assess and fully participate in the governance process especially at the local level.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah