CoST Sekondi/Takoradi trains Assembly staff on Data Standards

A day’s training workshop on Infrastructure Transparency Initiatives (CoST) Data Standards (IDS) has been held for key actors in participating assemblies under the CoST programme.

The training would enhance proactive disclosure of information relating to infrastructure projects within the districts as well as help them to adopt and implement CoST projects to enhance proactive disclosure of projects and contract information to direct beneficiaries and other stakeholders.

The training workshop organised by the CoST Sekondi/Takoradi Foundation with funding from the CoST International Secretariat formed part of recommendations made during the second Assurance projects from participating assemblies.

Mr Isaac Aidoo, the Manager of the Foundation said the approach sought to complement reforms in the management of public finances and infrastructure procurement infrastructure.

He said the project had so far trained and built capacities of assemblies, organised assurance processes and launch reports, formed district monitoring teams, and conducted infrastructure transparency index among others activities.

Mr Isaac Cobbinah, Management and Information System Officer of the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) noted how the efficient use of the Information could serve as a backup archive for the participating assemblies.

He described the platform as relevant in keeping soft copies of project information and allowing easy access to the public.

The Officer said, “even when the assembly probably, but God forbid, there’s a fire or something happened, someone can go online and get some information “.

Mr Abu Mahama, the Shama District Planner noted that the portal was going to open the assemblies to give more access to the public to monitor and hold their assemblies accountable.

“Because what we have seen is that we’ll put our projects there. The public has the opportunity to go online and check whether what we have put there is right and if we also put wrong information on the website, the public can draw our attention to it so that we correct them.”

He said the portal would ensure consciousness and circumspection when we are going to put information that is authentic that anyone can verify.”

The Shama District Planner noted how good it was for the portal to be linked with the Assemblies’ website.

Mr Mark Andoh, the Mpohor District Coordinating Director was happy that some districts have been introduced to the tenets of the CoST programme to enhance performance and promote transparency.

“We are expected to be transparent in whatever involvement we have with community members, to know what is happening.”

He noted that transparency rather promoted better relationship with stakeholders and better support in challenging times.”

Mr Andoh said the involvement of stakeholders would halt the problem of abandoned projects and save the assemblies’ monies and prevent them from appearing before the public accounts committee.