The governance procedures used by the different Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have been criticised by attendees of a Social Accountability Workshop.
The level of dealings in the project execution regime, the way contracts were carried out without effective coordination between the local Assembly and the central government, and the requirement for a change in most interactions between the government and the populace for the welfare of society did not sit well with them.
The Twin Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP) and the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) worked together to organise the workshop.
Participants from the STMA Open Government Partnership (OGP) Multi-Stakeholder Forum, which has 40 members, as well as other people, received training on social accountability tools for successful activism in order to promote the necessary socioeconomic development of their communities.
One of the main initiatives being carried out as part of the STMA’s TCSPP’s urban governance component is the training.
A three-year social intervention plan called the TCSPP aims to improve the STMA’s situation.
Building the capacity of 40 members of STMA’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Multi-Stakeholder Forum and 60 community leaders in social accountability, according to the project manager, Mr. Isaac Aidoo, would promote transparency in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and give participants the tools and knowledge they need to track and evaluate governmental actions.
According to him, citizens will also be given the knowledge and tools necessary to actively engage in political processes and hold duty-bearers responsible.
In order to enhance the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, Mr. Aidoo said it had become crucial to strengthen urban governance by forming an informed and involved group of stakeholders.
“It is expected that participants will have a better understanding of the concept of social accountability, its importance in governance, and application in the context of the metropolis, for monitoring and assessing government actions, as well as engaging with local authorities effectively,” he said.
He said the 60 community leaders were to serve as change agents represent their communities and advocate their needs within the governance framework.
The workshop was expected to contribute to better governance practices within the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, leading to more responsible and transparent decision-making processes, and active engagement in civic activities including participating in the OGP and other initiatives aimed at promoting accountable governance processes.
Mr Aidoo prayed that the knowledge and skills gained by participants would result in concrete actions that enhanced transparency, address urban governance challenges, and reduce social exclusion in line with the goals of the TCSPP.
