Sunyani (B/A), June 11, GNA - A day's sharing session on "Good Governance and Human Rights Programme" for beneficiaries of operators of community based organizations (CBOs) in Brong-Ahafo has been held in Sunyani. It was organised by IBIS, an NGO in collaboration with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).

The 43 participants included District Coordinating Directors, representatives of community-based organizations, Assembly Members, Planning Officers of District Assemblies, among others. The workshop formed part of a nation-wide programme to ensure good governance through assisting operators of CBOs to effectively play their expected roles to enhance government's democratic dispensation process. Representatives of beneficiary CBOs, which had received DANIDA assistance in the content of the Right-Based Approach (RBA) programmes through IBIS explained in their reports how they and their communities had benefited from the programmes of the Ghana/Danish partnership.

Opening the workshop Mr Francis Boateng, Regional Coordinating Director commended IBIS and DANIDA for the RBA programmes, which would ensure the sustainability of good governance in Ghana. He noted that, the government was committed to ensuring good governance in the country and the seriousness it has attached to the poverty alleviation programmes was a testimony.

The Coordinating Director said the scrapping of the criminal libel law, the decentralization policy and programmes such as 'Meet the Press' and the People's Assembly meant the government was on track to ensure good governance. Mr Boateng added that, the Freedom of Information Act, now before parliament would ensure citizens' unfettered access to information from government officials. He, however, noted that illiteracy among majority of the citizenry in the country was a major constraint that impeded good governance and expressed the hope that partnership with NGOs and other stakeholders would help tremendously towards the achievement of the goal.

Mr Simon Manu, Coordinator of IBIS, said there are 73 CBOs in six regions that his outfit was operating throughout the country. Mr Manu listed the six operational regions as Northern, Upper East and Upper West, Volta, Central and Brong-Ahafo. Northern Region has 26 NGOs, Volta, 18, Brong-Ahafo 11, Central, 11, Upper West eight and Upper West four. He said his outfit had already toured five of the regions including Brong-Ahafo and expected to hold similar forum at Ho, come June 11 to 12. He added that the organization would hold a National Review Board of Fund meeting or an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Accra on June 16.

All the 73 agencies and representatives of other similar programmes in Ghana such as Clusa, GAIT, ActionAid, RAVI and others are expected to attend the Accra meeting.