By Lawrencia Akoto Frempong, GNA
Prampram, March 03, GNA-The Ningo-Prampram District office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a social auditing engagement on the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
The engagement was a partnership programme by the NCCE and the Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) with support from the European Union and the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Emmanuel Oppong Mensah, the Ningo-Prampram NCCE District Director, noted that rule of law and public accountability were fundamental pillars of democratic governance and were sustainable for Ghana’s development.
Mr Mensah stated that public accountability operated through both supply and demand sides, while state institutions and public officers were required to act within the law by providing information, justifying decisions, and delivering their services responsibly to citizens.
He revealed that citizens also had the right to have a corresponding duty to seek information, monitor public actions, question decisions, and hold duty bearers accountable through lawful and participatory means.
He also mentioned that effective governance was therefore achieved when empowered citizens to engage constructively with responsive institutions within a framework with transparency and respect for the rule of law.
The NCCE Director said that although the nation had made significant progress establishing laws, policies, and institutional mechanisms to promote accountability, some challenges persisted in translating these frameworks into meaningful citizen participation, especially at the local levels.
He stated that some challenges, such as limited awareness of local government operations and weak state-citizen interaction, were blocking citizens’ ability to demand accountability and monitor public service delivery.
“These gaps weaken public trust, undermine adherence to the rule of law and create conditions that allow inefficiencies and corrupt practices,” he said.
He reiterated that the social auditing offers a practical and participatory approach to strengthening the demand side of public accountability and empowering the communities to assess development projects, track the use of public resources, and engage duty bearers in informed and constructive dialogue.
He stated that through the social auditing platforms, citizens would be unable to identify gaps in policy implementation, access service delivery outcomes, and jointly develop action plans with local authorities.
Participants called on the NCCE to continue their public education and sensitisation on the rule of law and the fight against corruption within their communities and national policies known to them.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Linda Asante Agyei