A day's workshop has been held in Sunyani for Civil Society Organizations/Non Governmental Organizations (CSOs/NGOs) operating in Brong-Ahafo. The workshop which was an initiative of Local Governance Network (LOGNet) was organized to among other things mobilize and build the capacities of its members on decentralization and effective local governance.

Ghana's current governance framework dates back to 1988. This was when the country began implementing a decentralization programme aimed at transferring some functions and powers of the central government to the sub-national government with the view of promoting meaningful democracy and participatory development.

Since then, efforts such as the enactment of the Local Government Act shows an orientation towards ensuring the participation of citizens in local and nation development processes.

The decentralization programme has however encountered some challenges in its setup from the view point of both the government and civil society sectors such as the legal and policy component, the political and administrative section of the decentralization policy framework.

This has created limited civil society mobilization and engagement, public accountability vacuum among others.

It is against this backdrop that the formation of the Local Governance Network (LOGNet) became necessary by the recognition of the challenges facing the decentralization process.

It was also motivated by the urgent need to present a more unified force to engage with both central government and sub-national government. The network is made up of a group of organizations that seek to promote effective decentralization and local governance through the promotion of citizens' participation in decision making as well as development.

LOGNet uses a number of tools such as capacity building, dialogue, research and media campaigns to help promote citizens participation in effective decentralization and local governance.

Currently, the Network has about 80 organizational members working iin all the ten regions of Ghana with over 200 potential members yet to be mobilized.

Addressing the Sunyani workshop, the National Coordinator of LOGNet, Saaka Sayuti, said the gathering has become necessary to fertilize the Network in Brong-Ahafo geared towards its organizational goals.

He told the meeting that in 2012 the network is focusing among others on helping multiply women's representation in local governance. Mr. Sayuti consequently entreated member organizations to step up their activities to help chalk that fate.