Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has announced plans to broadcast Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA) sessions live to the public.
The Bawku Central Member of Parliament (MP) disclosed that he has engaged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to roll out a programme providing live coverage of General Assembly and Town Hall meetings across all MMDAs nationwide.
Objectives of the Initiative
According to the Minister, the initiative is designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and citizen participation in local governance, in line with the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).
Boost for District-Level Elections
Beyond promoting openness in local government, the former Majority Leader expressed hope that the live broadcasts will spark greater public interest in the upcoming District-Level Elections, while encouraging more Ghanaians to take an active role in the decentralisation process.
A Call to Citizens
The Minister rallied citizens to embrace the initiative, stressing that collective effort is key to improving local governance.
“Together, we can build more transparent, accountable and responsive local institutions,” he stated.
The announcement has been welcomed as a significant step towards deepening grassroots democracy and bringing the work of local assemblies closer to the people they serve.
By Gifty Boateng