-The Justice and Peace Commission of the Yendi Dioces of the Catholic church has launched a Project on community participation in local governance for transparency accountability.

The programmes, which is on the theme: Community Participation in local Governance and for Transparency, Accountability and Development was sponsored by the Konrad Adenaeur Foundation with the aim of sensitising the local people to participate in the local governance for transparency Accountability and development.

Over 100 participants made of Chiefs, Imans, Leaders of Local Council of Churches, political Leaders, Assembly Members Heads of Department drawn from Yendi and Namumba North Municipalities Tatale/Sangule, Saboba, Mion, Zabzugu, Gushegu, and Nanumba South Districts participated in the launch.

The programme would also educate them on the election of MDCES, and Assembly members.

Bishop Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai, of the Yendi Catholic Diocese who launched the programme indicated that governance was an integral part of society and the rate of its development depended on its system of governance. Bishop Boi-Nai said the local governance system was structured on the district assembly concept, where it operated on devolution or delegated powers from the Central Government to ensure their unique development.

He said the local government Act 2019(Act 963) and the constitution of the republic of Ghana 1992 the assemblies are the highest units of local governance.

He called on citizens to participate in the activities of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, Zonal Councils, Area Councils and Unit Committees in their areas.

He said when it comes to the allocation of funds to assemblies transparency was key to the citizens.

Reverend Father Clement Kwasi Adjei National Director of National Justice and Peace Commission said the purpose of the project was to create awareness of local governance participation among community members for rapid and sustainable development.

He reminded that participation in local governance ensured accountability transparent and community development and the Catholic Church in Ghana had collaborated with government and Non-Governmental Agencies to build responsible communities through advocacy awareness creation, and other projects.

Reverend Father David Kajal, Vicar General of the Diocese of Yendi in a welcome address said the programme was organised by Justice and Peace wing of National Catholic Secretariat (NCS) with support from the Konrad Adenaer Foundation is one of the initiatives of the Catholic church in Ghana to educate and empower people to effective engage and participate in political discussion and decision making process of both national and local levels.

He said in that way, citizens were able to contribute their talents to the development of their particular local area and make use of the right channels to demand accountability and transparency from those who hold political office for sustainable development.

He announced that at their recent meeting in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, the Bishops of West African Sub-Region identified political awareness and participation in governance as root causes of illegal migration with its attendant consequences of suffering, pain and death