He said demanding for accountability of duty bearers was a right of every Ghanaian citizen and not a favour from duty bearers.
Mr Elyasu made the call at a Social Accountability Forum held in Tumu in the Sissala East Municipality aimed at promoting community ownership of development projects and policies.
It was also geared towards enhancing citizens’ understanding of local government operations and the rule of law, and to empower communities to lawfully demand accountability.
“Always demand for accountability from duty bearers at all levels, whether traditional, political or religious, because it is your right for the duty bearers to be accountable you, it is not a favour from them,” he emphasised.
He noted that public accountability engendered trust, promoted community ownership of development projects, and reduced corruption.
Madam Baidau Mohammed, the Sissala East Municipal Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), presented on, “Public Accountability Mechanisms,” emphasising citizens’ rights, complaint and redress procedures, and the responsibilities of public office holders.
She emphasised that public accountability was anchored on transparency, good leadership, and honesty.
She encouraged the people to take advantage of the Public Relations and Complain Committee (PRCC) and the Client Service/Information Desk at the Municipal and District Assemblies, durbars, festivals, and radio phone-in programmes as mechanisms citizens to demand accountability from duty bearers.
Mr Abubakari Musah, the Sissala East Municipal Coordinating Director, took participants through the functions of the District Assemblies, which provision of development projects in health, education, agriculture, trade and industry, and maintaining security.
The participants raised concerns about issues including the provision of health facilities at in Nyameminjan, Diglafuro and Stadium Residential areas, extension of electricity to newly developed areas, opening of access roads, and expansion of the Tumu Water System to uncovered areas.
They also raised concerns about inadequate teachers’ quarters, furniture and toilet facilities at the Tumu Senior High Technical and Kanton Senior High Schools, community involvement in the award of contracts, and allocation of new stores at the Tumu market.
The forum was organised by the NCCE in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the “Strengthening the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption in Ghana” project, and co-funded by the European Union.
The Participants were drawn from the Tumu Urban Council, comprising Nanyua, Nyameminjan, Kusinjan, Zongo Extension and Stadium Residential electoral areas, and students from Kanton Senior High School and Tumu Senior High Technical School.
GNA
