44% Ghanaians prefers radio as means of receiving information from assemblies,perception survey says

 

A survey conducted by the Local Government Capacity Project (LGCSP) of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) in 23 MMAs has revealed that citizens still have a low level of knowledge about who is their elected assembly member and appointed Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCEs).

The survey, dubbed End-Term survey, shows that only 21 percent of citizens knew  both the appointed and elected officials at the assemblies. The findings of the survey were a prelude to a base-line survey conducted in March 2015 by the ministry.

Citizen’s perception on MMAs, citizen’s interactions with MMAs, citizen’s assessment on the MMAs, citizen’s participation in Public Financial Management (PFM) and the impact of MMAs’ performance were the five key focus areas.

The survey sampled 2,736 households in 23 Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies (MMAs) in the project targeted areas across the country.  It recommended that citizens’ attendance to assembly’s planning meetings and participating, need to be strengthened.

It also revealed that only about 13% of citizens are satisfied with financial statements of the MMAs, which means the assemblies have to improve upon it in order to avoid creating suspicion among citizens.

Majority of citizens, the survey indicated, was not aware of how the assemblies carry out their work and are not also satisfied with the sanitation situation in their communities.

On the assemblies’ means of sending information to them, 44% of citizens preferred radio in receiving information from the assemblies to any either means such as brochures or information service vans.

The survey’s aim was to identify areas of improvement at the MMAs since 2013.

This came to light when a Development Planning Officer at the Social Accountability unit of the ministry, Mr Eli Yao Kuadey presented the findings to planning officers, coordinating directors, assembly members, chiefs and civil society organizations from the three regions of the north, at a day’s dissemination workshop in Tamale.

Explaining the essence of the survey to Zaa News, Mr. Kuadey said the survey was to determine how far the assemblies are faring in terms of citizen’s engagement and involvement in their activities within the four to five years period.

He recommended that the assemblies engage citizens more in the years ahead and look for innovative ways to improve their programs.