Lecturer ask chiefs to dialogue on policy direction

December 09, 2010 Agona- Nkwanta(W/R), Dec. 9, GNA — A Senior Lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, on Wednesday advised chiefs, assembly members and unit committees to engage the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in a dialogue on policy direction.

Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, also a Governance Expert, said would help the communities to acquaint themselves with the development agenda of the MMDAs and ask for their share of development projects.

Dr Gadzekpo gave the advice at a workshop organised by the Conservation Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, on bridging the gap in local governance for improved community development.

She said in this era of multi-party democracy, assemblies were obliged to engage communities in a dialogue on policy direction so as to ensure probity, accountability and transparency.

Dr Gadzekpo admonished the electorate to participate in the forthcoming district level elections to choose dedicated and committed assemblies members to champion the course of development in their communities.

The Chief of Apemanin and Gyasehene of the Ahanta Traditional Council, Nana Ackah-Chie III, expressed disappointment over the lack of development projects in the town.

He noted that successive governments failed to improve social amenities such as roads, schools and health facilities in the town.

Nana Ackah-Chie said the previous government started erecting electricity poles to connect the town to the national electricity grid.

He indicated that, when the New Patriotic Party lost power in the 2008 general election, the project had come to a standstill.

He said poor road network in the area had resulted in post-harvest losses because vehicles could not cart food items to the market centres thereby making the people poorer.

GNA