Civic Participation and Accountability November 2017 – August 2019 Ongoing commitment Parliament, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Lead implementing agency/actor Development, Office of the Head of Local Government Service,and, Ministry of Finance FDU, Commitment description As part of efforts to strengthen at citizen’s engagement What is the public problem that the sub-national level, a framework on participatory the commitment will address? planning and budgeting has been developed by the Local Government Service (LGS) to guide Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in engagement. The new Local citizens’ Governance Act (Act 936) passed by Parliament in 2016 dedicates a whole section to popular participation. The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Local Government have consequently developed a manual and an action plan to guide its implementation. In 2013, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) commenced implementation of the Local Government Capacity Support Project (LGCSP) in some 46 selected Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies (MMAs). An integral component of this project is the establishment of Social Accountability (SA) units, development and use of public financial management templates by the participating assemblies to improve education, citizens’ communication and engagement. In the second action plan the government proposed to establish Client Service Units (CSU) in all the District Assemblies. This action has been substantially implemented. There is the need to move further the process to promote effective participation in citizens’ decision-making processes.
Civic Participation and Accountability November 2017 – August 2019 Ongoing commitment Lead implementing agency/actor Parliament, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Office of the Head of Local Government Service,and, Ministry of Finance FDU, Commitment description What is the public problem that the commitment will address? As part of efforts to strengthen citizen’s engagement at the sub-national level, a framework on participatory planning and budgeting has been developed by the Local Government Service (LGS) to guide Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in citizens’ engagement. The new Local Governance Act (Act 936) passed by Parliament in 2016 dedicates a whole section to popular participation. The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Local Government have consequently developed a manual and an action plan to guide its implementation. In 2013, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) commenced implementation of the Local Government Capacity Support Project (LGCSP) in some 46 selected Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies (MMAs). An integral component of this project is the establishment of Social Accountability (SA) units, development and use of public financial management templates by the participating assemblies to improve citizens’ education, communication and engagement. In the second action plan the government proposed to establish Client Service Units (CSU) in all the District Assemblies. This action has been substantially implemented. There is the need to move further the process to promote effective citizens’ participation in decision-making processes.