The Centre of Posterity Interest Organization (COPIO) and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) have organized a stakeholder’s consultative meeting in an effort to promote transparency and accountability in local governance.
The event brought together some assembly members, representatives of the Techiman Traditional Council, artisan, small scale business owners, and a section of the media to discuss the responsibilities of Assembly Members, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and Members of Parliament (MPs) to the people.
The stakeholders meeting, also tackled issues of climate change, its causative agents, effects and possible solution to the menace
The meeting aimed to foster open dialogue and encourage collaboration among stakeholders to address issues related to political accountability and local governance. Participants shared their perspectives and experiences, and discussed potential solutions to improve the effectiveness and responsiveness of local government institutions.
The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of purpose among stakeholders to work together towards a more accountable and inclusive local governance system.
The Executive Director of COPIO, Mr. Mustapha Maison Yeboah, in an interview with the media, explained that, the main aim of COPIO and IDEG is to ensure accountability at the local government and bring governance closer to the people.
“The Centre of Posterity Interest Organization (COPIO) and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), aims to ensure accountability between the local government system and the people in a given district or municipality and also how best to address climate change for the betterment of our society.
“During our discussions, it became clear that the Member of Parliament periodically accounts to the people via the various radio stations in the constituency but not through town hall meetings.” He said.
According to him, the organization of townhall meetings serves as a platform for the inhabitants of a municipality or district to know how their taxes are being used which in turn educates them on the reasons they have to pay their taxes on time.
He further revealed to the people of Techiman during the townhall meeting that they prefer to vote on their M.C.E rather than being imposed on them, he said the stakeholders call on the government to appoint at least three people for them to vote on.
“The assembly also does not organize town hall meetings, the purpose of town hall meetings is to ensure proper accountability. When the citizenry gets to know how their taxes are being used to manage the affairs of the assembly, they don’t hesitate to pay the taxes but in situations where the assembly fails to organize a town hall meeting to account to the people, paying off taxes becomes a challenge.”
“All the stakeholders engaged in today’s discussion concluded that, it will be in their best interest if they are allowed to vote on their MMDCEs, they agreed that the ruling party has the liberty to appoint the MMDCEs but the President should appoint at least 3 people for the general public to vote and decide who they want to serve them as their MCE or DCE.” He said
Mr. Mustapha Maison Yeboah, urged the people of Techiman and Ghana to feel free to visit their various assemblies and demand for accountability.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
