Ho, Oct. 22, GNA - District Assemblies have been urged to ensure that Civil Society Organizations within their jurisdiction were helping to promote the Assemblies' governance mandate. Mr Simon Manu, Coordinator of the Civil Society Governance Fund of Ibis Ghana, gave the advice at a one-day review forum in Ho for Community Based Civil Society Organizations (CB-CSO) in the Volta Region under DANIDA's Good Governance and Human Rights programme. The Forum held on Monday enabled the CB-CSOs to share lessons on their activities.

They also shared lessons with officials of the District Assemblies and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) in the region. Mr Manu observed that in many instances some CBOs and non-governmental organizations acted contrary to their publicly declared intentions, thereby undermining the efforts of the Assemblies as the ultimate political authorities in their respective districts. The forum featured CBOs that were into promoting the rights of women, the physically challenged, children as well as human rights in general in their respective communities.

Some of the achievements of the CB-CBOs included increased participation of communities in providing schools, improvement in academic performances among pupils, increased enrolment of children in schools and growing confidence among the physically challenged in their abilities.

The DANIDA Good Governance and Human Rights Programme through Ibis provides "technical assistance to CB-CSOs to promote participation, human rights, equity, transparency and accountability towards sustainable poverty reduction," a summary of its activities stated.