The Africa Development Programme (ADP) has organised a public forum in the Ga West Municipality to educate people on ways of seeking information from the assembly as part of efforts to deepen social accountability and transparency.

Citizens in the area were reminded that as taxpayers, contributing revenue to support the initiation and implementation of assembly projects, it was within their right to question officials about development plans in their communities.

Mr Charles Othniel Abbey, the Programmes Coordinator of ADP, said closer collaboration between citizens and assembly officials through free flow of information was crucial in speeding up development projects and enhancing revenue collection.

He said the willingness of people to pay levies largely depended on how they understood the processes of the assembly’s preparation of the annual and medium term development plans as well projects earmarked or initiated for local communities.

“The annual and medium term development plans must be available and accessible to citizens,” he said, noting that the forum, aimed at deepening knowledge of the people could facilitate the process.

“This forum will enable you to seek the right information about social and economic development from assembly officials,” Mr Abbey said, “and question development projects in local communities and the help from the assembly”.

Participants who spoke to the Ghana News Agency described the forum as “an eye opener and a great platform to learn about assembly activities.”

Some wanted greater transparency in the disbursement of the disability common fund, and suggested the assembly publish the list of beneficiaries and total amount released by the common fund administration.

The session was on: “Understanding social accountability and the role of citizens,” and it was organised under the Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability project implemented by the ADP.

The project is a component of the local government capacity support with grant support from the World Bank which aims to improve citizens’ perceptions of urban management and increase their engagement with urban assemblies.

The African Development Programme, which is centred on building strong economic growth, is moored in inclusive social development for citizens.

It aims to promote human-centred development through integrated development programmes targeted at rural and peri-urban communities.