Agona Nkwanta (W/R), Oct. 19, GNA - Conservation Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), on Tuesday, urged traditional authorities and community members in the country, to actively get involved in the local governance system, to ensure accelerated development.

Mr Osei Yaw Owusu-Sakyere, Managing Director of the Foundation said the lack of cooperation between traditional authorities, district assemblies, as well as non participatory attitude of most communities in the local governance system, had retarded development in most rural communities in the country.

Mr Owusu-Sekyere, made the call at a stakeholder's workshop at Agona Nkwanta in the Ahanta West District. It had the theme, "Bridging the gap in local governance for improved community development". He said the Foundation would meet traditional rulers, assembly members, unit committee members and local government authorities in seven communities in the Ahanta West District, to deliberate on how to cooperate to bridge the gap in local governance, to ensure accelerated development in those communities.

Mr Owusu-Sekyere said the Foundation had selected Busua, Chabinnin, Tumentu, Patase, Apemayim Number One, Cape Three Points and Sanor, all in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region for the project. He noted that, the project was aimed at strengthening the chieftaincy institutions to enable them to have a full grip of their jurisdiction and bring the people closer, to undertake programmes that would benefit the communities.