Without citizens participation in the local governance
system, decision making process is left in the sole hands of few elected and
unelected leaders. The absence of such a participatory approach is the bane for
development and progress in society. In order to provide an effective solution
to this challenge, Penplusbytes with support from Making All Voices
Count (MAVC), is rolling out the “Grassroots Open Government Using New
Digital Tools” project in the Ada East district of the Greater Accra region and
in the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly.
To ensure greater uptake and buy-in by citizens,
Penplusbytes will on 10th September, 2015 launch this project in Tamale, in the
presence of Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini (MP), deputy regional minister; Abdul Hanan
Gundado, Mayor of Tamale, and other dignitaries. The launch will also bring
together members of parliament, assembly members, community members, opinion
leaders, community based organisations (CBOs) and stakeholders in health,
sanitation and education from the Tamale Metropolitan area. The launch comes in
the heels of successful launch in Ada last August.
Penplusbytes through this project will make use of an
integrated set of tested tools that include an interactive online platform http://opengov.org.gh/, integrated with
Mobile app, SMS via Short codes 7000 for MTN and 1904 for all other networks
(with each text preceded by GOV), Social media via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/penplusbytes
and Twitter https://twitter.com/penplusbytes
using #OpenGovgh hashtag, traditional media, and an information and knowledge
management tool to enhance interaction between the local people and their
authorities. Through these technologies, combined with face-to-face
interventions such as public forums and community radio, the project is putting
citizens at the center of the developmental process.
The project running from May 1st, 2015 to April 30th, 2016,
is intended to enhance communication and information sharing between citizens
and local government in two local government assemblies of Ghana; focusing on
public service delivery; health, education and sanitation through a
collaborative and integrated approach.
Part of the project’s implementation would see the
simplifying of the development plan and budget of the Tamale Metropolitan
Assembly; highlighting service delivery on health, sanitation and education as
means to giving opportunity to citizens to participate in how resources are
allocated for development are prudently utilized.
According to Director of Programs at Penplusbytes, Jerry Sam
“This intervention will deliver on an Improved and well informed government
actors on the nature, depth and quality of information demanded by citizens,
using appropriate technology to achieve better communication and monitoring
between them” He added that, the project will strengthen the engagement
frameworks between citizens and governments in order for citizens to be at the
center stage of effective monitoring of development projects and budget thereby
closing the feedback loop.
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.
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