By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Tema, Feb. 27, GNA — The Tema Metro Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held a social auditing engagement with identifiable groups and other stakeholders to promote community ownership of developmental projects and policies.
The engagement, which is also being carried out in 60 districts across the 16 regions of Ghana, forms part of the project “Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption,” under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIRed) programme.
It was also aimed at enhancing citizens’ understanding of local government operations and the rule of law, as well as empowering communities to lawfully demand accountability from duty bearers.
The engagement brought together public institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), civil society organisations, market associations, students, the media, and religious organisations, among others.
Madam Gloria A. Kudo, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Director for the NCCE, stated that the rule of law and public accountability were fundamental pillars of democratic governance and sustainable development in Ghana.
Madam Kudo noted that currently, public accountability operates through both supply and demand, adding that so, while state institutions and public office holders are required to act within the law, provide information, justify decisions, and deliver services responsibly, citizens also have a corresponding duty to seek information, monitor public actions, question decisions, and hold duty bearers accountable through lawful and participatory means.
She said social auditing was a name adopted by the NCCE to empower citizens to be active participants in the governance architecture, saying it helps citizens to hold duty bearers accountable by tracking developmental projects in the community, their quality or durability, as well as timely completion for use by community members.
She noted that the engagement was key because corruption remained one of the greatest threats in Ghanaian society, particularly to local governance and national development.
Madam Kudo explained that the social auditing also provides an opportunity for residents of Tema Metro to identify the gaps in policy implementation and assess service delivery to foster shared responsibility for development and promote citizens’ participation, transparency, and accountability in local governance.
Participants during the engagement raised issues on faulty sewage systems, school indiscipline, sanitation, child labour, and other concerns.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo