MP for Sene East Advocates for Enhanced Decentralized Governance to Drive National Development
Hon. Dominic Napare, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sene East in the Bono East Region, has called for a deeper decentralization of local governance to boost development across the country.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, he emphasized that decentralization is vital for empowering local communities and ensuring more effective participation in governance.
“Mr. Speaker, decentralization is a cornerstone of participatory democracy. Over the past three decades, there has been a growing transfer of political and economic power to local governments, enabling public sector decisions to be made closer to the people,” Hon. Napare explained.
He stressed that this shift is essential for promoting accountable governance, improving public service delivery, and fostering stronger connections between the government and the people.
Under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, decentralization is mandated, with Article 240(1) calling for a system of local government that is decentralized. To support this, Parliament enacted the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), which consolidated local government laws and aimed to strengthen citizen participation in decision-making.
However, Hon. Napare pointed out a key concern, despite the provisions in Act 936, the involvement of local stakeholders in governance processes remains limited.
The Act defines district-level stakeholders as including chiefs, traditional authorities, opinion leaders, community leaders, and civil society organizations. Yet, he questioned whether these stakeholders are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities under the law, particularly in terms of participatory governance.
Sections 40 to 48 of Act 936 outline opportunities for stakeholders to participate and provide oversight for effective service delivery. Unfortunately, Hon. Napare noted that District Assemblies have not adequately engaged local stakeholders in these processes, particularly in areas such as the formulation of by-laws and fee-fixing resolutions.
The MP also emphasized that increased stakeholder participation in the budgeting and fee-fixing processes would help boost local revenue generation. Engaging citizens early in the process could reduce friction between taxpayers and revenue collectors, as well as increase public awareness of tax obligations.
Hon. Napare also advocated for greater use of Information and Technology platforms to enhance communication between District Assemblies and the public. Town hall meetings, budget preparation forums, and other public announcements should be utilized more effectively to ensure that citizens are well-informed and actively involved in governance.
A crucial provision of Act 936, Section 47, gives residents the right to access information held by District Assemblies. However, the MP expressed concern that this right has not been fully utilized by the media or the public. He called for more awareness campaigns on the provisions of the Act to encourage its use and enhance transparency.
In his statement, Hon. Napare highlighted the importance of inclusivity and the integration of marginalized groups in local governance. Section 48 of Act 936 mandates District Assemblies to protect marginalized groups from discrimination and ensure their equal participation in political and public life. He suggested that implementing these principles could help address the underrepresentation of women and marginalized groups in local governance.
To address these challenges, Hon. Napare recommended strengthening the relationship between local governments and the communities they serve. This involves not only increasing citizen engagement, but also ensuring that District Assemblies are more responsive and effective in their governance.
He proposed that the Ministry of Local Government and District Assemblies undertake extensive sensitization campaigns on the Local Governance Act, particularly on Sections 40 to 48, to encourage greater participation at the local level.
Hon Napare further suggested that the Local Government Ministry incorporate participatory governance into the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) to evaluate the responsiveness of Assemblies to issues of inclusivity and marginalized groups.
This, he stated, would help ensure that the principles of participatory governance are not just theoretical, but are actively practiced across the country.
The lawmaker’s call for deeper decentralization and stronger community involvement in governance seeks to create a more inclusive, responsive, and effective local government system in Ghana, one that can drive sustainable development at the grassroots level.
Source: Felix Nyaaba//expressnewsghana.com
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