Madam Fati Lily Soale, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, has said the local government system in the country is designed to promote people-centred development and governance.

“This is the foundation for social inclusion for the people for whom we initiate interventions to improve their lives”, she stated.

Madam Soale was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Akim Oda in the Birim Central Municipality, shortly after interacting with a cross-section of members of the “Media Network and Social Accountability” who are mostly journalists.

She told the GNA that local governance entailed an active involvement of the local population within the territorial boundaries of a local government, in ensuring improved quality of services and leadership.

“This includes greater participation of civil society and citizens in the decision making processes for effective consensus building and civic awareness’, she said.

“Indeed social accountability creates opportunity for informed and constructive dialogue and negotiation between citizens and governments and the identification of mutually agreed solutions, thus contributing to better governance and greater political stability.

She said: “Town Hall meetings are critical aspects of the process and are one of the many platforms we hope to see that brings assemblies and the people together to discuss budgets and finances.”

“Indeed social accountability creates opportunity for informed and constructive dialogue and negotiation between citizens and governments and the identification of mutually agreed solutions, thus contributing to better governance and greater political stability.

She said: “Town Hall meetings are critical aspects of the process and are one of the many platforms we hope to see that brings assemblies and the people together to discuss budgets and finances.”