Accra, May 16, GNA - Even though the District Assemblies are lower structures of government unlike Parliament efforts should be made to strengthen them to function properly since most government policies and programmes are implemented at the local level.

Mr Daniel Nii Okai, Chairman of the Odododiodoo Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra at the weekend said, "the District Assemblies are to ensure grassroots participation in government and they must be strengthened and given the attention they deserve".

"The Assemblies are very important and have very crucial roles to play and should not be dwarfed," he added.

Taking the Odododiodoo constituency as an example, Mr Okai pointed out that since the Assembly Member of the area, Mr Nii Tackie Komme, was elected as the Member of Parliament in a by-election last year, no effort had been made to fill his place.

The NDC Constituency Chairman urged the Electoral Commission to put structures in place to ensure that Assembly Members who for one reason or the other leave their positions are replaced just as the Commission conducts by-elections to replace MPs when their seats become vacant. Mr Okai expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise that ended on Sunday to revise the Voters Register and said it should not be extended even though there should have been more publicity on the programme.

He said that as a party, the NDC impressed on its members without the voters identity card to take advantage of the re-opening of the register to have their names on the electoral roll to enable them to exercise their franchise in future elections.

Mr Okai called on the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to educate the people on their rights and duties as citizens all the time and not to wait until programmes such as the re-registration exercise before becoming active.

The NCCE should organise workshops, talks and other public education programmes for the people all the time to make a real impact, Mr Okai stated.