Dr Zanetor Rawlings, Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey-Korley Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has challenged the citizenry to arm themselves with knowledge and skills to demand accountability and transparency from duty-bearers.
She explained that every citizen had the right to demand accountability and transparency, especially at the local level and charged them to wake up to the responsibility.
Dr Rawlings threw the challenge at an orientation and handing over ceremony in Ho in the Volta Region for freshers, and executives of the National Democratic Congress’s Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) which coincided with the swearing-in of 12 executive members from each TEIN chapter.
The event was on the theme: ‘Mobilising and Equipping the Youth for Victory 2020, the Role of TEIN.’
“Structures are in place to ensure transparency and accountability, but the problem is citizens’ resolve to keep duty-bearers on their toes is at the minimum, you have the right to information, with regards to what is happening with our money, written in law, read, equip yourselves with knowledge and skills to build your capacity.
“You must possess analytical minds, help share figures for the citizenry to realise true situation on the ground, you should pay attention not only to the budget, but to unbiased analysis of the budget, we must understand concept of social democracy and appreciate its values, decentralisation aligned with values of our party, which has laid proper foundation for democracy and good governance,” Dr Rawlings pointed out.
Edem Agbanu, Deputy National Youth Organiser of NDC, said members of TEIN particularly the executives must be bold to defend the party, and help increase membership, saying “executives who cannot help the party win power will have their powers taken away.”
Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, said TEIN members must support constituency and branch executives on outreach programmes towards building strong and formidable teams.
George Loh, Vice Chairman of NDC in the Volta Region, indicated that a lot must be invested in strengthening the student wing of the party to deliver, strengthening relationships, fostering cooperation on campuses for stronger and unified front which gave youth most opportunities to work in government, and tasked the students to invest time in helping the party win back power in 2021. -GNA
