Krachi east: The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has sensitized different groups in Krachi East municipality of the Oti Region on the importance of upholding the rule of law and fighting corruption. The one-day training workshop was aimed at empowering citizens to lawfully access and monitor the performance of local government and public institutions, ensuring transparency and accountability.
According to Ghana News Agency, the workshop was organized by NCCE with support from Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and co-funded by the European Union (EU) under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) Programme. Over 50 participants attended the program, bringing together duty-bearers, community leaders, representatives of women and youth groups, civil society organizations, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The program aimed to create platforms between duty-bearers and communities to foster civic responsibility and participatory governance. Mr. Clement Kwesi Mamadu, Krachi East Municipal Director of NCCE, said the engagement sought to empower participants to actively engage in local governance processes and lawfully demand accountability from duty-bearers without fear or intimidation.
Addressing the participants, he explained that social auditing promoted dialogue between citizens and office holders on the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects, while encouraging community interest in such initiatives. He advised residents to hold public officers accountable to ensure the judicious use of public resources and stressed the need for active participation in governance to promote transparency and accountability.
Mr. Robert Kwesi Boame, Oti Regional Director, also added that the exercise was to deepen citizens' understanding of corruption and inspire collective responsibility in confronting it. He noted that corruption was a national concern that demanded the involvement of all, not just a few individuals or institutions.
He explained that the initiative formed part of the commission's ongoing outreach to various community groups to promote civic consciousness and accountability. Mr. Joshua Borah, Oti Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), educated participants on their right to information and lawful means of demanding transparency in the use of public resources.
'It is the right of residents to hold public officers accountable by ensuring that resources meant for development are judiciously utilized,' Mr. Borah added. He urged participants to use the court, CHRAJ, and other state institutions to seek redress against corruption practices.
Mr. Yaw Kanjo, Deputy District Director of Krachi East, has urged citizens to utilize the Public Relations Committee Complain (PRCC) to seek clarity on governance issues. Speaking at the forum as Chairman for the occasion, he encouraged community members to contact PRCC at the Municipal Assembly for confirmation and guidance on matters related to local governance and public services.
Following the workshop, a forum was opened for participants to ask questions and engage with officials on governance and anti-corruption. The session saw active participation from community members, who sought clarity on issues such as access to public information, accountability in local governance, and reporting corruption cases.
Officials from the NCCE, CHRAJ, and other local government bodies responded to questions and provided guidance on citizens' rights and responsibilities. The interactive session helped to address concerns and strengthen the community's understanding of governance and anti-corruption measures.