Accra: The Department of Community Development has initiated a comprehensive staff consultation in Koforidua, aiming to address operational challenges and enhance grassroots development as part of a nationwide engagement strategy. The meeting focused on identifying obstacles faced by community development officers and charting a new course for the department's district-level operations.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Stephen Blay, the National Director of the department, emphasized the department's commitment to fostering development in rural and peri-urban communities. 'Our mandate is to facilitate and ensure that every community in Ghana is developed, especially those in rural and peri-urban areas,' he stated. Mr. Blay highlighted the department's collaboration with other institutions to implement development programs and improve livelihoods at the grassroots level.
He elaborated that the consultations were designed to realign officers with the department's core responsibilities. 'My visit is to encourage officers to refocus on community education, mobilize communities to improve their living conditions, and provide skills and livelihood opportunities to make people financially independent,' he explained. Mr. Blay also noted the department's efforts in assisting communities to utilize digitalization and innovation for marketing locally produced goods.
'We help communities leverage opportunities provided by digitalization and innovation to market their products,' he mentioned. He underscored the pivotal role of community development officers in facilitating public understanding and uptake of government policies and initiatives. 'Our work will not be complete if we do not help people, especially those at the grassroots, to understand government policies and initiatives and benefit from them,' he said.
Mr. Blay further added that effective district and community-level coordination is central to the department's mission. Strategies have been developed to accelerate community development and improve living conditions nationwide.
Mrs. Vera Lamiley Allottey, Eastern Regional Director of the department, remarked on the institution's longstanding contribution to national development through community mobilization and stakeholder engagement over the past 78 years. 'The Department of Community Development has existed for the past 78 years and continues to play a vital role in community mobilisation and engagement,' she affirmed.
Mrs. Allottey detailed the region's implementation of UNICEF-funded child protection programs and partnerships with public and private institutions to bolster community development. She emphasized the necessity of a collective effort in community development, collaborating with entities such as the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, and National Commission for Civic Education, among others.
She revealed that all district officers in the region have been trained to engage communities and support initiatives aimed at enhancing people's well-being. The Eastern Region marked the final stop on the National Director's nationwide engagement tour following meetings with district officers in other regions.