The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), a civil society organisation, has observed that for Ghana to experience rapid socio-economic development there is the need for effective participatory local governance.

To this end, MFWA in collaboration with eight radio stations in the Western Region had embarked on a programme to facilitate the process in the Western Region.

It is dubbed: “Using Radio to Promote Effective and Participatory Local Governance in the Western Region.”

At a public forum held in New Takoradi on Friday to assess the impact of local governance radio programmes in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Ms Abigail Larbi, Project Coordinator of MFWA, mentioned the media houses selected for the project as Twin-city Radio, Kyzz Fm, Ankobra Fm and Trikie Fm.

The rest are De Beat Fm, the Best Fm and Adehyia Fm.

Ms Larbi noted that the country’s fledgling democracy calls for effective participation of the ordinary citizens in local governance in order to make meaningful contributions to the decentralisation process, as well as making inputs into the programming of radio stations.

This she said would accelerate national development and alleviate poverty in the society.

The project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development and Management System International.

Some of the assemblies where the project is being implemented include Sekondi-Takoradi, Nzema East, Prestea Huni Valley, Aowin-Suaman, Bibiani-Anhwianso-Bekwai, Sefwi-Wiawso and Bia.

The Project Coordinator indicated that the MFWA had trained 18 journalists, particularly host of morning shows, on the local government concept as well as the development of radio documentaries and features on pressing issues within their areas of transmission.

She said the MFWA had held series of community durbars at communities where the project is being implemented including Sefwi Debiso, Sefwi-Asawinso and New Takoradi.

Some participants at the forum expressed their impression on the initiative and commended the MFWA for the effort.

They appealed for more of such opportunities to contribute their quota towards strengthening the local governance system.**