The German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has organized a workshop on Ghana's decentralization concept and the preparation of medium-term development plans and budgets for district assemblies.
The five-day training workshop was attended by 45 participants from Non-Governmental and Community Based Organisations in the Brong Ahafo Region. Municipal and district budget, finance and planning officers also attended it.
It was aimed at equipping the participants with the requisite skills and knowledge so they could actively engage in development planning at the district level and also assist in programme monitoring and evaluation.
Mr. Mike Kraku, the Regional Economic Planning Officer, said the workshop was necessitated by the important role civil organisations play in the decentralization process.
He advised the participants to take the workshop seriously in order to harness the development prospects of their respective districts.
Mr. Emmanuel Tettey, a facilitator, noted that decentralization involved the transfer of power, resources and functions to the local level.
"Decentralization and decentralized planning involve stakeholders in decision making for local implementation that go hand-in-hand with transparency and accountability," he said.
He impressed on the civil society groups to serve as watchdogs of public officials and to create a platform for checks and balances.
The participants called on the government to stop deducting portions of the district assembly common fund at source, to enhance the decentralization system.