The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called for more citizenry participation in local governance and civil life, one of the key characteristics of democracy, good governance and rule of law.
It noted that citizenry involvement in local governance and civil life were not only limited to voting during elections or standing as a candidate for political life but also involved ability and willingness to carefully watch how their leaders and representatives used their powers and resources.
The commission urged the government, philanthropists and other benevolent organisations to assist it in the fight against bribery and corruption by equipping it with logistics and financial support to engage more residents and other stakeholders.
Modesta Annie Sapaty and Oliver Agbenyo, West Akyem Municipal and Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Directors of NCCE respectively made this known at separate social auditing engagement programme organised by the West Akyem and Kpone-Katamanso NCCE at Asamankese in the Eastern and Kubekro in the Greater Accra Regions .
They observed that social auditing was an opportunity offered residents to have public discourse with ‘’duty bearers’’ to learn at first-hand, information about plans, policies, programmes and efforts being made to address some pertinent concerns.
According to Madam Annie Sapaty “not only the citizenry should be willing to express their opinions and interests on issues of concern but play an advocacy role to ensure favourable laws, policies and programmes are formulated and implemented both efficiently and effectively.”
Mr Agbenyo noted that the citizenry could cure themselves from bribery and corruption menace by enhancing self-discipline and stressed that “the commission was mandated by the 1992 Constitution to engage the citizenry to find lasting solution to the fight against the menace which is increasing daily and reduce it to the barest minimum.”
Seth Boadu, the West Akyem Municipal Chief Executive, called on the citizenry to honour their obligations to the state by payment of taxes, levies, rates, duties and fees to fast-track development projects and programmes in the municipality.
Samuel Wiafe, the Municipal Director of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), who briefed participants on the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan, admonished participants to report acts of impropriety to anti-corruption state institutions. -GNA
