By Michael Pepsin Avorgah, GNA
Viepe-Tokor (V/R), March 3, GNA – The Ketu South Municipal Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a Social Auditing Forum aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and citizens’ participation in local governance.
Funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the European Union, and the Ministry of Finance, the engagement, held at the Ketu South Municipal Assembly Hall, forms part of the anti-corruption campaign on “Strengthening the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption.”
The forum brought together traditional authorities, opinion leaders, civil society organisations, Assembly Members, Unit Committee members, youth groups, students, and other residents to interact directly with duty bearers on key developmental concerns within the municipality.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mama Hodzige II, Ketu South Municipal Director of the NCCE, described the Social Auditing programme as a vital participatory tool that empowers citizens to engage public officials and demand clarity on development projects and policies.
She said the platform provided residents with the opportunity to track government interventions, monitor resource allocation, and ensure value for money in the execution of public projects.
Mama Hodzige noted that Ketu South is among four districts in the Volta Region selected to benefit from the initiative, describing the municipality’s inclusion as a significant step towards deepening democratic governance at the local level.
She urged citizens to sustain the oversight culture promoted by the programme to help prevent the misuse of public funds and reinforce public confidence in state institutions.
A major issue that featured prominently during the discussions was the long-standing water extension project from St Paul’s Senior High School to neighbouring communities.
Participants called for updates and greater transparency regarding their progress and completion timeline.
Madam Kpeli Peace, a participant, commended the NCCE and its funding partners for creating a platform that allowed them to engage directly with duty bearers.
She said the knowledge acquired during the dialogue had enhanced their understanding of their rights and responsibilities in local governance and expressed hope that the engagement would contribute to resolving the municipality’s long-standing development challenges.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba