The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has urged stakeholders in the local governance system to avoid all forms of internal wrangling and work together to accelerate the development of communities and districts.
Mr. Nicolas Ofori Boateng, the Central Regional Director of NCCE, who gave the advice, noted that these acts which often ensued between assembly and unit committee members, traditional leaders, DCEs, as well as the electorate had the potential of undermining the decentralization process.
Mr. Boateng was speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the NCCE with support from the European Union at New Ebu in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District of the Central Region.
It was aimed at rekindling community participation in the local governance system at the grassroots.
The forum formed part of the Commission’s lined up of activities to educate the public on the structures, roles, functions and the duties of the assembly and unit committee members to enhance public awareness on the concept of the local governance system in the country.
He explained that development of a community was a shared responsibility which could only be achieved when there existed peace, harmony and understanding amongst people.
He however cautioned them to desist from taking on responsibilities outside their mandates.
Mr Boateng stressed that the district assembly concept was strictly non-partisan and entreated assembly and unit committee members to treat it as such.
He condemned the apathy shown by some Ghanaians towards communal labour as well as other activities of the district assembly, describing it as destructive with the tendency of collapsing the assembly concept.
He therefore urged Ghanaians to support the assemblies to ensure that the purpose of the decentralization process was achieved.
Mr. Ekow Willis Sam, a retired NCCE officer and the presiding member of the Abura- Asebu- Kwamankese District Assembly, asked citizens to be vigilant and demand that their assembly members consulted them on all issues, particularly on development projects before they were executed.
He expressed regret that some assembly and unit committee members did not know their roles and responsibilities, and suggested that a routine orientation be organized to enable them to work effectively in their respective communities.
Mr. Robert Afenyi, an assembly member for New Ebu speaking on behalf of the assembly members, enumerated some challenges they faced including finance to organise meetings with the electorate.
He therefore appealed to the government to consider giving them allowance from the District Assembly Common Fund.
Nana Asiedu Bofo IX, Gyaasehen of New Ebu, who chaired the programme thanked the NCCE for the education and expressed the hope that more of such education would be organised in communities to enlighten the people.
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