Government takes measures to bring transparency in local governance

Government has initiated steps to compel the Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies (MMAs) to make information freely available to the citizens, so that they could intend demand more accountability and transparency.

Mrs Irene Odokai Messiba, Head of Social Accountability Unit of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development disclosed this at a capacity needs assessment workshop for media practitioners, in Accra on Wednesday.

She said the Social Accountability Unit has now completed its facilitation role in forming Media Networks across the country with the Greater Accra being the last to be formed at the workshop

Mrs Messiba noted that Government finds it more costly to keep information to itself than to give out and observed that MMAs failure to make relevant information available to citizens on projects implementation was partly responsible for the needless demonstrations, press conferences, locking up of offices and wearing of red arm bands, which sometimes lead to destruction of life and property.

She said the media networks formed in the various regions would receive regular training on budgeting, auditing, finance and social accountability tools.

This would equip the network members with relevant knowledge and skills to better inform the citizens on issues directly affecting them, she said.

Mrs Messiba said her unit has already prepared templates of MMAs auditing, budgeting and financial reporting, containing both pictures and words.

She said if the templates are finalised and approved, it would be simpler to read and understood by both literates and illiterates, adding that, the MMAs would be required to display them in the open place and further make copies available to the media network.

The assemblies would be required to orgainise regular town meetings to solicit views and pressing concerns of citizens and factor them in the assemblies’ plans, she added.

Source: GNA