TEERE, an NGO in the Upper East Region with funding from Robert Bosch Foundation launched its Report on citizen participation in local government in the Upper East Region. This report dubbed “Research Report on Pilot TEERE Local Government Forums (TLGF)” is the first report published by TEERE.

This Report is focused on the engagement of the citizenry especially the excluded in society by seeking their opinion on their level of participation in local governance. These include women, Persons living with Disability, persons living with HIV/AIDS, the poor and disadvantaged.

The TLGF provides an informal platform for citizens to participate in local governance and local government policy reforms in Ghana. The forum ensures that citizens engage themselves in their own development and how they can influence decision making in governance from local to national levels. It also provides opportunity for duty bearers such as chiefs, assembly members, and government functionaries etc. to account to citizens on a regular basis.

This is a pro-poor project meant to involve rural communities within the Region in their governance process at the local level.

The CEO of TEERE, Prof. Nsoh Avea lamented that the report revealed that most citizens were not aware of what went on within their Assemblies therefore the need to involve the citizenry to ensure accountability and transparency.

The Report for instance, stated that 99% of the respondents said they supported regular forums at the district level. Again, 91% of respondents said they have made the effort to get involved in their community development.

TEERE has also published the “Report on small scale irrigation farming in the Vea and Tono in the Upper East Region”. This is a baseline study about plight of farmers cultivating vegetables around the Vea and Tono dams.

Visit www.teeregh.org for more information.