Ms Sarah Agbe, National Coordinator, Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), on Thursday said there was too much focus on acquisition of money among the citizenry to the neglect of seeking information for social accountability.

She said the situation could be the cause of the “provision of shoddy works” and the dishonest use of power among duty bearers in the country. Ms Agbe said this at the launch of Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (SPEFA) in Ho.

SPEFA is an initiative of SNV and aimed at strengthening citizen participation in local governance and ensuring social accountability. She said though money, knowledge and wisdom were propellers of development, over concentration on money to the neglect of the others would only breed corruption and poverty.

“Poverty can hardly be reduced unless we strengthen social accountability within the decentralization process at all levels of development,” Ms Agbe stated. She said state actors were having a field’s day because the citizenry was either illiterate or not interested in governance issues.

“I believe an informed citizenry will attract quality response from duty bearers and they will take decisions that will improve their lot and hold state actors accountable,” Ms Agbe said. She therefore urged the public to desist from complaining and engage state actors for quality services.

Ms Akorfa Oclich, Chief Executive Officer of Community Development Concern, a Ho based NGO coordinating the project, said the beauty of decentralization was when locals were involved in decision making and activities done transparently.

Mr Edward Gidiglo, the Ho Municipal Coordinating Director who launched the project, said it would enhance good relationship between the Assembly and the public. The project would train individuals and identifiable groups in processes involved in planning, budgeting and procurement at the Assembly.

This is to position them to monitor public projects and understand expenditure patterns of projects.