The Ellembelle District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a town hall meeting at Nkroful to sensitise residents to social auditing mechanisms aimed at promoting transparency and accountability at the local level.
The meeting formed part of the Commission’s two-year project dubbed, “Strengthening Rule of Law and the Fight against Corruption,” funded by the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), with GIZ, Germany, as partner agency.
It brought together 41 participants from various identifiable groups including Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association, the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Mr Samuel Aibi, the Ellembelle District NCCE Director, said in his welcome address that the social auditing activities formed part of the Commission’s broader mandate to empower citizens with anti-corruption mechanisms to demand transparency and accountability from duty bearers to accelerate community development.
He cited the Whistleblowers Act as one of the key mechanisms encouraging citizens to report corrupt practices for redress.
Mr Andrews Ofori-Larbi, Western Regional Director of the NCCE, said the engagement sought to mobilise efforts and resources of government, individuals, CSOs and the private sector to strengthen the fight against corruption.
He said the sensitisation would enable community members to identify pressing local issues and demand accountability from duty bearers in addressing them.
He noted that the absence of basic social amenities such as toilets, refuse dumping sites, good roads, stable electricity and potable water remained some of the major concerns citizens could seek redress for through social auditing.
He urged participants to be responsible citizens and ambassadors of anti-corruption efforts in their various communities.
Reverend Alex Donkoh of the Fountain of Life Ministries, who chaired the event, commended the NCCE for the initiative, describing social auditing as an essential tool for accountability and development in any governance process.
He said the meeting had empowered participants to demand accountability from duty bearers.
Mr Alhassan Mohammed, the Ellembelle District Coordinating Director, lauded the NCCE for the programme, saying it would help citizens assess and participate fully in local governance processes.
GNA
