Bongo (UE), Nov.8, GNA - Community members have been asked to contribute inputs to district assemblies for the preparation of budgets. The Budget Analyst of the Bongo District Assembly in the Upper East Region, Mr. Damma Mumuni made the call at a budget forum for community members in the area, at Bongo on Friday The forum was organized by Foundation for Grass Roots Initiatives in Africa, a non-governmental organization (NGO), working to strengthen political, economic and social rights of the poor and the marginalized, and sponsored by Ibis West Africa.

It was aimed at empowering and encouraging community members to contribute to the planning and preparation of budgets by assemblies. Mr. Mumuni said it was crucial for community members to contribute to the drawing of budgets and its implementation since projects and services captured in the financial statements affected them. He said that the Bongo Assembly would organize a forum to solicit views of the people towards the preparations of budgets. Mr. Mumuni expressed worry that some people failed to attend meetings organised by the assembly to gather their inputs and views. He said the assembly had almost completed the Small Town and Water System in the Bongo Township and had completed five out of the ten school blocks project in the district. Mr Mumuni said the assembly had also planned to build quarters for health staff in the area. The Deputy District Coordinator of the Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Issahaku who, represented the District Chief Executive, Mr. Clement Akugre commended the NGO for its role in empowering members of the communities to enable them to take part in the decision-making, which according to him was in line with the decentralization process.

Mr Issahaku said that the assembly would support communities that would initiate development projects. The Participants were taken through topics including "How Align is the National Budget with the District Budget?", "What are the Budget Making Processes at the District level?" and how can Civil Groups get involved in the Process?" 8 Nov. 09