SEND-Ghana Champions Policy Literate Ghanaian Campaign
SEND-Ghana, an organization with the vision to promote the idea of having a society where people's rights and well being are guaranteed has conducted a study on how the District Assembly Common Fund is being used to the betterment of the Ghanaian.
The study according to Clara Osei Boateng, Director of Policy Advocacy programmes, SEND-Ghana was conducted in 27 District Assemblies in the Greater Accra, Northern, Upper West and Upper East Regions.
“We researched on 27 District Assemblies in the areas we are situated. In accra we studied 5 district assemblies, in the northern region we studied 10 assemblies, 7 districts in upper west and 5 Districts in the upper East”, the policy advocacy director averred
The research shows that a total of 416 projects were initiated by the 27 MMDA's panning across energy, road and market centers with almost half (45.7) of the projects not completed in time which were likely to yield cost increase.
It is against this background that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SEND West Africa, Siapha Kamara urged the media to partner his organization to ensure that citizens become policy literates thereby having the ability to influence public policy for their own good.
Siapha Kamara said most Ghanaians are unaware of government policies and projects which is why they are unable to hold public officers accountable.
SEND-Ghana's research indicated that the GA West District's 42 projects initiated between 2010 and 2013 was highest compared to the other districts with Bolgatanga, West Gonja and Bunkpurugu Districts recording the lowest with 3 projects due to long bureaucratic processes, delay in inspection of projects before the authorization of payments for execution to continue and bribery.
Member of Parliament for Asunafo North, Robert Safo Mensah who was present at the research launch also sought that such reports be made available to parliament to compliment their work.
He also urged that the capacity of Assembly members be built to help improve the management of the District Assembly Common Fund to enhance its impact.