South Tongu Citizens Prioritise Key Projects at NCCE Social Auditing Engagement

The South Tongu Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) recently organised a Social Auditing Engagement at the South Tongu District Assembly hall in Sogakope to promote accountability and strengthen the fight against corruption in the district.

The programme brought together 75 participants, including traditional authorities, faith-based organisations, artisans, youth leaders, media practitioners, civil society organisations (CSOs), Assembly Members, Unit Committee Members, security personnel, and driver unions.

Held under the theme “Strengthening the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Anti-Corruption,” the event was sponsored by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and co-funded by the European Union (EU).

In his welcome address, the District Director of the NCCE, Mr Seth Fiagorme, thanked participants for honouring the invitation and urged them to take an active role in governance. He emphasised that social auditing provides citizens with the opportunity to track government projects, ask questions, and ensure public resources are used effectively for community development.

The Deputy Volta Regional Director of the NCCE Mr. Oral Robert Amenyo gave a detailed presentation on the purpose and relevance of social auditing. He explained that social auditing is a powerful tool that enables citizens to monitor and assess government projects, ensure efficient service delivery, and hold authorities accountable for resource management. He noted that it strengthens the local government system by fostering transparency, promoting collaboration between citizens and authorities, and ensuring decisions reflect the real needs of communities. By engaging citizens in oversight, social auditing helps prevent misuse of public funds and builds trust between the people and their leaders.

Mr Chris Dollar, an officer from the district office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), educated participants on the mandate of the Commission and explained how to report human rights violations and administrative injustices.

During an interactive session, the District Planning Officer, Mr Abdul Gafaru Musah, guided participants in reviewing the district’s development needs. After extensive discussions and ranking, the construction of a three-unit classroom block at Agorgbe was identified as the top priority. The construction of a CHPS compound at Nyinuto came second, while the drilling of 12 boreholes in selected communities was ranked third.

To ensure proper oversight, a nine-member Social Auditing Committee was formed, chaired by Mama Mariama Fomedigbe II, Queen Mother of the Fievie Traditional Area. The committee will monitor the implementation of the projects and report progress to citizens.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Victoria Dzekloe, who graced the occasion, thanked participants for their active involvement. She noted that governance is not about blaming leaders, but about working together to ensure development. She urged stakeholders to collaborate effectively to drive progress in the district, and assured participants of the Assembly’s commitment to completing the selected projects on time. Hon. Dzekloe also thanked the NCCE for organising the programme and commended participants for their passion in discussing district issues and selecting the top priority projects.

The engagement concluded with participants renewing their commitment to work collectively to promote transparency, accountability, and development in South Tongu.