Accra:: The Ningo-Prampram District office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a social auditing engagement focused on the rule of law and the fight against corruption. The programme was a joint effort by the NCCE and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with backing from the European Union and the Ministry of Finance.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Emmanuel Oppong Mensah, the Ningo-Prampram NCCE District Director, emphasized the importance of rule of law and public accountability as essential elements of democratic governance and sustainable development in Ghana. He noted that public accountability requires both supply and demand side operations, where state institutions and public officers are expected to act lawfully by providing information, justifying decisions, and delivering services responsibly to the citizens.
Mr Mensah highlighted the citizens' rights to seek information, monitor public actions, question decisions, and hold duty bearers accountable through lawful and participatory means. He stressed that effective governance is achieved when empowered citizens engage constructively with responsive institutions within a framework of transparency and respect for the rule of law.
He acknowledged that despite significant progress in establishing laws, policies, and institutional mechanisms to promote accountability, challenges remain in converting these frameworks into meaningful citizen participation, especially at the local levels. Limited awareness of local government operations and weak state-citizen interaction were identified as barriers to citizens' ability to demand accountability and monitor public service delivery.
Mr Mensah pointed out that these issues undermine public trust, adherence to the rule of law, and create conditions for inefficiencies and corrupt practices. He reiterated that social auditing provides a practical and participatory approach to strengthening public accountability and empowering communities to assess development projects, track the use of public resources, and engage duty bearers in informed dialogue.
He mentioned that through social auditing platforms, citizens would be able to identify policy implementation gaps, access service delivery outcomes, and collaboratively develop action plans with local authorities. Participants urged the NCCE to continue their public education and awareness efforts on the rule of law and anti-corruption measures within their communities and at the national level.