ILGS calls for broadening of stakeholders in local governance

Accra, March 26, GNA - Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye, Executive Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies, on Tuesday called for the inclusion of all stakeholders in local governance to ensure efficient service delivery at the local level of governance.

She said participation in governance, accountability and transparency from those at the helm of affairs would in no doubt boost the chances of the success of governance at the local level.

Dr Ofei-Aboagye said this during a day's post-African Cities (Africities) seminar organised by the Institute for stakeholders in local governance in the country.

The Africities seminar provides a platform for stakeholders in the development and governance of African cities to share insight practices and generate common positions for the way forward.

'These efforts are also to ensure equity, inclusiveness and responsiveness to all sections of city populations, including women and children,' she said.

She said participants would also deliberate on how to promote participatory approach to urban planning and management based on clearly identified community needs and how to create an institutional framework that would enable stakeholders to align their efforts towards common objectives.

'We would also look at how to ensure maximum alignment between national government, local government and communities such that they work in a complementary way, each playing discreet but supportive roles', she said.

Dr Ofei-Aboagye said the Post-Africities seminar would provide participants an opportunity to reflect on the themes, objectives and recommendations of the Dakar summit, share ideas on presentations at the summit with relevance to the Ghanaian context.

'We would also explore emerging issues around coherence and alignment in the management of urban development and also chart an agenda relevant to local governance,' she added.

The Accra post-Africities seminar is to brief those involved in local governance in the country on what transpired in Dakar during the last summit, and how they could be effectively implemented in our metropolitan and municipalities.

The post-Africities seminar was to deliberate on enhancing strategic planning, governance and resource mobilisation capabilities of cities in the country as a contribution to economic growth and urban poverty reduction.

GNA