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Governance, empowerment project makes gains

A three-year project being implemented by the Gub-Katimali Society (GKS), an NGO in the Northern Region, has so far recorded some significant gains within two years of its inception.

The project, promoting an Inclusive and empowered civil society to advance socio-economic and political development in Ghana, is sponsored by the European Union and implemented by BasicNeeds-Ghana, in collaboration with four of its local partners, including the GKS. It seeks to promote all-inclusive governance and empower the vulnerable to be able to demand accountability from local officials.

It is being rolled out in some 20 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Upper West, Upper East, Northern and Greater Accra regions to advance socio-economic and political development by holding MMDAs accountable.

Some of the 20 MMDAs are Central Gonja, East Mamprusi, Bunkprugu-Yunyoo, Nanumba South, Tamale Metropolis, Bawku West, Builsa, Wa, Lambussie-Karni, Ayawaso Sub-metro, Okaikoi Sub-metro, Ashiedu-Keteke Sub-metro and Ablekuma Sub-metro areas.

The 471,029 Euros project intends to contribute to ensuring people-centred development that meets the needs and aspirations of the majority of the population, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, including women’s groups, the youth as well as peasant farmers, who are mostly excluded from decision making or development processes at the local level.

According to the Executive Director of GKS, Sheik Abdul Kareem Yakubu, since the inception of the project two years ago, the various assemblies were beginning to see the need to involve vulnerable groups in the decision-making processes of the assemblies,  to achieve an all- inclusive development that would make everyone satisfied.

Speaking at a forum organised by GKS in Tamale that witnessed participants drawn from the different beneficiary districts in the Northern Region, Sheik Yakubu lauded the accommodating attitude of the assemblies and encouraged them to do more for vulnerable groups.

Most participants in the forum confirmed that their respective assemblies were now living up to expectation by honouring their obligation towards them through the allocation of their share of the District Assemblies Common Fund as well as other social protection programmes, which were gradually bringing improvement into their lives.

For instance, in the Nanumba South District, a lot of persons with disabilities had been enrolled in a skills training programme such as dressmaking whereas some four other individuals have been supported with money totalling GH¢6,100 to open a provisions shop, a smock -weaving work shop, and undetake ruminant rearing and farming and as well pay school fees at the tertiary level.

In the Nanumba North District, three people with disabilities  had been offered GH¢3,600.00 to buy a sewing machine and its accessories, open a computer repairing shop and operate plastic bag business. An amount of GH¢25,000 has also been provided to pay of  the medical bills of a child with sealed anus.

The West Mamprusi District Assembly officials have also supported the mentally handicapped and epileptic group with GH¢4,000.

Besides, those into farming were supported with inputs such as fertilisers, weedicides and tractor services to boost their farming activities.

It also emerged at the forum that PWDs in the East Mamprusi District received 32 sewing machines from the Rural Enterprise Project in 2012. These were given to members who were being trained in dressmaking.

Hairdressers also received 30 driers from the assembly in the same year while 10 children received financial support towards their education.

By Marcelinus Dery/Daily Graphic/Ghana

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