Compiled by Alfred Adams
The Center for Democratic Development (CDD) has held a training workshop for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) based in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis last week.
The workshop, entitled ‘Transparency and Accountability in Decentralization’, saw a number of CSOs register and take part.
Dr. Osei Kufuor, one of the resource personnel from the Institute of Development Studies of the University of Cape Coast, explained to the participants the importance of transparency and accountability in decentralisation.
This was after the participants had each taken turn to explain the meaning of decentralisation and accountability as they understood them.
That set the tone for the resource person to begin his lecture on the topic -Transparency and Accountability in Decentralization.
According to him, decentralisation could only work effectively when the government realises the need to enforce accountability.
He said without accountability, it would be difficult to envisage how public officials would be obliged to assume responsibility for the allocation of public resources and their management, and as well the effect of these resources at the local level. Transparency, according to the resource person, did not only mean making information available and accessible.
The information, according to him, should be timely, reliable and relevant to all decision-makers and the public at large.
“At the local level, there should be transparency in all operational activities, especially, in establishing accounting standards for performance monitoring and public finance management.”
He added that without transparency, the citizens would not be able to see through the workings and programmes of the government.
Dr. Osei Kufuor, however, mentioned institutional provisions such as elections and auditing to ensure power holders were held accountable.
In the contest of local government, ensuring accountability goes beyond election and auditing.
Mr. Edward Apratwum of the CDD also took the participants through facts about decentralization and local governance.