Social Inclusion and Accountability Project launched in Tolon

A project to deepen citizens’ knowledge and awareness of the country’s local governance system has been launched at Tolon in the Northern Region.

Dubbed “Social Inclusion and Accountability Project,” the initiative aims at leveraging the expertise of volunteers, including assembly members, nurses, teachers and youth activists to educate schoolchildren on local governance.

It is being implemented by Savings and Development Dialogue Ghana (SDD Ghana), an NGO, and funded by STAR Ghana Foundation, a CSO.

The event was attended by traditional rulers, district education officers, pupils, CSOs and other stakeholders.

Significance

In a speech read on his behalf, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Abanga Abdulai, said grassroots development was possible when citizens were made aware of the fine details of how the local governance system works.

He said this would give meaning to the provisions and objects of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), which provides a comprehensive framework on all matters concerning local governance, decentralisation and rural development.

“It is, therefore, heartwarming that your project is taking on the often-taken-for-granted issues, by seeking to disseminate information and build knowledge with schoolchildren.

“I am also excited that this project exclusively uses volunteers, underscoring the need for development agencies to harness all known resources for national development,” Mr Abdulai, who is also the Member of Parliament for Binduri in the Upper East Region, added.

The Deputy Minister, whose speech was read by the District Chief Executive of Tolon, Fuseini Salifu Issifu Moshie, stressed the crucial role schoolchildren play as conveyors of messages to adults at home and in communities.

He called on all to contribute to the active citizenship philosophy by volunteering their time and expertise to support various aspects of national development.

Mr Abdulai commended SDD Ghana for the foresight, and STAR Ghana Foundation for the technical and financial support. 

Governance Coaches

The Board Chairman of SDD Ghana, Dr Sadat Salifu, said under the project, selected civic-minded citizens in beneficiary communities would function as “governance coaches” voluntarily and provide guidance to 47 JHS students.  

The coaches, he said, would be taken through comprehensive training in ACT 936, the legal framework that undergirds the Local Assembly system in the country.

They would also guide the students to mimic the workings of the district assembly as a deliberative body that championed local development. 

Investing in Youth

Dr Salifu further said SDD Ghana was committed to investing in the youth which he said was key to building a brighter future for the country.

“By empowering the youth with knowledge and skills, we are confident that they will grow into responsible and engaged citizens, ready to contribute to the development of their communities and the nation as a whole”, he added.

The Executive Director of SDD Ghana, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Nandom, said apart from deepening knowledge on local governance, the project would help in promoting active citizenship by drawing on the expertise and time of professionals from diverse backgrounds voluntarily.

For his part, the Executive Director of RAINS, an NGO, Hardi Tijani, who chaired the function, called on young people and other professionals to devote their time to volunteering for good causes to facilitate development.