By Nii Martey M. Botchway, GNA
Accra, Aug. 6, GNA – The Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) says its Public Relations and Complaints Committee (PRCC) has become an alternative dispute-resolution mechanism for residents, resolving about 70 per cent of complaints and petitions brought before it over the past year.
The Committee said it had provided amicable settlements to several disputes brought before it, helping residents to seek redress and resolve grievances through the Assembly.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Samuel Kwashie Tawiah, Chairman of the PRCC and Presiding Member of the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, said the achievement reflected the Committee’s commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and effective engagement between the Assembly and the public.
He said the PRCC was a public committee that served all residents of Ledzokuku and encouraged anyone with a complaint or concern to seek redress before it.
“The PRCC is a public committee that serves everyone in Ledzokuku, and we encourage anyone who has a complaint to bring it before us for resolution,” he said.
Mr. Tawiah said that over the past year, the Committee had resolved about 70 per cent of the complaints brought before it, describing the development as an indication that the municipality was making progress.
He assured residents that the Committee did not only hear complaints and petitions but also followed up on its decisions to ensure that agreed resolutions were implemented.
“Every case we sit on is followed through. After reaching a decision, we go to the ground to ensure that what was agreed upon has been implemented,” he said.
Mr. Tawiah said where parties failed to comply with decisions reached by the Committee, it had the authority to refer the matter to the appropriate institutions to ensure that the law took its course.
“If parties fail to comply with what has been agreed, we have the power to write to the appropriate authorities to ensure that the law takes its course,” he added.
He expressed optimism that the Committee would improve its performance further by the end of the year through sustained engagement with residents and prompt handling of complaints.
PRCC
The PRCC was established under Section 26 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), and comprises the Presiding Member, five elected Assembly Members, a representative of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), a representative of the Information Services Department and a representative of a civil society group.
The Committee’s functions include educating members of the public on the activities of the Assembly, promoting transparency, probity and accountability, investigating complaints and allegations concerning the conduct of the Municipal Chief Executive and Assembly staff, and addressing administrative injustices, abuse of office and violations of fundamental human rights.
It also serves as a mediator and arbiter in matters brought before it as petitions. However, the Committee is not mandated to sit on matters already before the courts, while decisions taken on matters within its jurisdiction are binding on complainants.
The Assembly has subsequently undertaken sensitisation activities to educate residents on the roles of the PRCC and the Client Service Unit, following concerns that some residents found it difficult to determine where to submit complaints and petitions.
The sensitisation programme is aimed at helping residents better understand the significance and functions of the two mechanisms and improving interaction between citizens and the Assembly.
GNA
Nii Martey M. Botchway
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong