The free
access to information and opinion is a precondition for the functioning of an
open, human rights oriented democratic society. To this end, Penplusbytes in
partnership with Deutche Welle (DW) is implementing a 12 month project dubbed “Freedom
of Expression and Media Capacity Building Project”.
The project which
is currently being piloted at Twifo Atti-Morkwa District Assembly in the
Central Region advocates the human right to access information and to freedom
of expression. It aims at providing easy
and accessible information on allocated budgets and development plans for
communities and improve the engagement frameworks between citizens and
governments for purposes of effective monitoring of programmes, development and
budget appropriation and decision making.
Three other
Assemblies which will benefit from this project are Tema Metropolitan Assembly,
Ellembelle District Assembly and the Wa Municipal Assembly.
In
explaining what the project will achieve Jerry Sam, Director of Programmes at
Penplusbytes said, the project will not only build the capacity of media to
better inform citizens about the work of the district assembly, but will also deploy
an online platform that enables citizens to monitor and access government
information. It will further help with policy analysis, development plans,
budgets appropriations, as well as implementation processes at the local
government level.
He states
that “The project will bridge the gap between citizens and the local assembly
in information sharing, encouraging the district assemblies to use digital
tools such as SMS and social media to reach and interact with citizens at the
grassroots; particularly in development planning and budget formulation and
also project implementation. This will ensure greater participation by the
wider population and good governance at the grassroots level.”
Other
activities under the project will include a citizen’s forum, a journalism workshop
on best practice on the treatment of information from the districts, a District
communication strategy workshop and media training for District officials.
###
About
Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization
driving change through innovations in three key areas: using new digital
technologies to enable good governance and accountability, new media and
innovations, and driving oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and
gas revenue and resources.
DW Akademie is Germany's leading organization for
international media development. We support the development of free and
transparent media, quality journalism, and also offer programs to boost media
skills. DW Akademie has
developed into an organization that focuses on wide-ranging, long-term
development projects.
No comments:
Post a Comment