Regional News of Wednesday, 3 September 2014

Source: GNA

Forum exposes assembly members to right to information

A forum to sensitise assembly members and community leaders on the Right to Information Bill (RTI) held in Bolgatanga on Tuesday with eight communities selected to begin a replication exercise in their localities.

The communities are Yikene, Zaare, Nyariga, Yorogo, Sumbrungu, Sirigu, Zuarungu and Gowrie in the Bolgatanga Municipality in Upper East Region.

The exercise would enable the communities to identify needs and seek responses from duty bearers and ways to improve delivery of pertinent social amenities.

The Forum was organised by the Gurune Community Broadcasting and multimedia Company (Gurune FM) in conjunction with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

As part of the replication exercise, interns of Gurune FM who received training from CHRI would engage the communities in radio discussions with duty bearers.

Ms Vida Agana, an intern said information leaflets on RTI would be made available to the people to provide more information on the roles of the communities and how to seek information.

Ms Mina Mensa, CHRI Africa Office, urged assembly members to be in touch with the electorate and provide them information.

She said Right to Information empower citizens in all social endeavours hence the need for assembly members to enlighten the electorate on the Bill.