By
Albert Futukpor, GNA
Tamale, Dec 11, GNA
– The Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), a civil society
organisation (CSO), has recommended the use of social accountability mechanisms
to help the country make headway in her response against corruption.
This was contained
in a statement issued and signed by Mr Mohammed Musah, Project Officer,
Economic Governance Project, under the Empowerment for Life Programme of the
GDCA and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale to commemorate International
Anti-corruption Day.
The International
Anti-corruption Day is marked on December 09, every year since the passage of
the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on October 31, 2003, to raise
public awareness on anti-corruption.
A recent Afro
barometer survey revealed that corruption worsened in the country compared to
previous years.
The statement said
the use of social accountability mechanisms ensured popular participation,
transparency, accountability and local government performance, which was
effective in promoting good governance and minimising corruption.
It said “On our part
as a CSO, GDCA has largely operated in the local government space with social
accountability mechanisms to increase popular participation, transparency,
accountability and local government performance”.
It said “Recognising
the fact that traditional accountability mechanisms, which concentrate on the
“supply side” of governance, have failed to deliver results in promoting good
governance and minimising corruption, the use of social accountability approaches
has become quite fitting”.
The statement said
GDCA’s “Economic Governance Activities of the Empowerment for Life Programme
applies social accountability tools in checking corruption in capital project
contracting and contractor selection processes and in internal revenue
generation and utilisation by the District Assemblies”.
It said “With the
use of Social Audits, Oversight Committees, and Community Scorecards and
Town-hall Meetings, citizens are offered the opportunity to monitor the
execution of capital projects by the District Assemblies. Quality and value for
money issues of the capital projects are raised directly by project beneficiary
communities for redress by duty-bearers”.
It said through the
Community Scorecards, citizens were able to score the District Assemblies in
terms of their compliance with the procurement law and the directives of the
Public Procurement Authority.
It said “Our
intervention has not only increased transparency and accountability in the
utilisation of District Assembly revenue, but has also reduced likelihood of
corruption, through citizens’ oversight of capital projects, and has increased
value for money at the local level”.
The statement added
that “The various contractors, being aware that their work is monitored by
citizens, have been mindful or sometimes compelled to adhere to project
specifications and quality standards”.
It said “Our use of
social accountability mechanisms gives a lot of hope to the fight against
corruption, given the poor track record of traditional anti-corruption
initiatives”.
GNA
