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St. James Catholic Church holds Town Hall Meeting

The Justice and Peace Commission of the Akumadan Saint James Catholic Church in collaboration with the Offinso North District Assembly has organized a Town Hall Meeting at Bosomponso in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti region.

Date Created : 3/11/2020 8:40:39 AM : Story Author : Emmanuel Buorokuu/Ghanadistricts.com

Welcoming participants, the Parish Priest for Akumadan Catholic Church Reverend Father Emmanuel Sarpong referred to the theme ‘community participation in local governance for rapid and sustainable development’ saying that development is not the preserve of government as the people are supposed to be active participants if it is to be attained in the desired manner.

The coordinator for the programme, Mr. Richard Akuruju said the decision to get the people to take an active interest in governance was taken at the last biennial bishop’s conference.

He said the church is made up of people whose social and economic well-being should also be at the heart of the church hence the need to get them interested in local governance.

He said it is important for the people to hold duty bearers to task for services rendered to them since it is their own taxes that are used in the provision of these services.

The District Director of Social Welfare and Community Development, Mr. Gabriel Owusu Sarpong, who took the gathering through ‘the consequence of Child protection, told the people to take good care of their children in order not to fall prey to imprisonment.

In his speech the District Chief Executive for the Offinso North, Mr. David Kwasi Asare said engagement and participation of citizens in decision making is the hallmark of democracy.

He said that “ Like in other jurisdictions the world over, we are, as a country adopted and committed ourselves to decentralization as the surest way to achieve the dual benefits of increased participation of citizens in governance as well as engender stable and resilient local communities.

Mr. Asare added that the assembly’s main intention is to further promote local democracy, participation and accountability through strong and viable citizens’ participation in local governance.

The Chief of Bosomponso Nana J.K. Boateng took the opportunity to remind the District chief executive of some major problems facing them while answers were provided to questions on issues bothering their minds during an open forum.

He appealed to the Peace and Justice Committee to involve the police in their activities to also educate the people of the consequences of crimes in order to reduce the spate of wee smokers activities in the district,