A day-long training workshop on “Civic Engagement on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption” was held in Lambussie to empower citizens to lawfully access and monitor the performance of local government and public institutions, ensuring transparency and accountability.
The workshop was organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) with support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and co-funded by the European Union (EU) under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) Programme.
A total of 80 participants attended the programme, bringing together duty-bearers, community leaders, representatives of women and youth groups, civil society organisations, and persons with disabilities.
The programme aimed to create platforms between duty-bearers and communities to foster civic responsibility and participatory governance.
Lambussie District Director of the NCCE, Taalar Amatus, said the engagement sought to empower participants to actively engage in local governance processes and lawfully demand accountability from duty-bearers without fear or intimidation.
He explained that social auditing promotes dialogue between citizens and office holders on the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects, while encouraging community interest in such initiatives.
He urged citizens to hold public officers accountable to ensure the judicious use of public resources and stressed the need for active participation in governance to promote transparency and accountability.
“You have to take ownership of projects in your respective communities and demand transparency and accountability from public officers,” he said.
The Lambussie District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Saeed Mohammed Sabur, educated participants on their right to information and lawful means of demanding transparency in the use of public resources.
“It is the right of citizens to hold public officers accountable by ensuring that resources meant for development are judiciously utilised,” he stated.
He encouraged participants to use CHRAJ and other state institutions to seek redress against corrupt practices.
The Divisional Chief of the Dindee Traditional Council, Kuoro Adams Tawaah, commended the NCCE and its partners for organising what he described as a “relevant and timely” workshop, noting that the district lagged in development.
He said empowering citizens on social auditing and civic engagement would enhance accountability and accelerate development.
Participants called on the Lambussie District Assembly to involve citizens in decision-making to ensure projects reflect community needs and priorities.
At the end of the workshop, a four-member committee was formed to initiate engagement with district assembly officials to ensure the successful implementation of projects in identified areas.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com