The Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives (PARDA), a non-governmental organisation, has launched a project aimed at promoting resilience in citizen-led accountability and performance in Bolgatanga.
Dubbed the Promoting Resilience in Citizen-Led Accountability and Performance (PRICLAP) project, the initiative seeks to enhance democratic governance and community empowerment across five municipalities and districts in the Upper East Region: Bolgatanga and Kassena-Nankana Municipalities, and the Bongo, Nabdam, and Kassena-Nankana West Districts.
The project is supported by the Participation Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, co-financed by the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, and implemented by GIZ in partnership with Ghana‘s Ministry of Finance.
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The launch brought together representatives from GIZ, District Chief Executives, traditional leaders, PARDA management and staff, as well as regional directors of the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Addressing participants, Dr Michael Wombeogo, Executive Director of PARDA, stated that the PRICLAP project is designed to foster good and accountable governance at both the District Assemblies and Regional Coordinating Council levels. Beyond governance, he said the initiative aims to build resilience in institutions, communities, and citizens’ ability to demand and deliver improved public services.
Dr Wombeogo highlighted that the project would directly benefit 15,850 community members across 144 electoral areas in the five MDAs. He emphasised that the initiative calls for commitment not just to activities and timelines but to the values of listening, learning, and leading with integrity.
He underscored that governance is not a spectator sport, noting: “It thrives when citizens are informed, engaged, and empowered to hold duty bearers accountable. This accountability is a paradigm shift geared towards service delivery, community engagement, strategic planning, and shared responsibility with community-wide stakeholders.”
Dr Wombeogo cautioned that PRICLAP is not an opportunity for personal gain, but rather a platform for stakeholders committed to probity and accountability to drive good governance and social transformation. He added: “From community scorecards to participatory planning, from feedback mechanisms to performance tracking, this project will ensure that governance is not only inclusive but also responsive. It is a call to maintain the true values of social accountability for the people we serve.”
Mr Emmanuel Aboagye Odoom, Technical Advisor at GIZ, reinforced the importance of accountability as the foundation of good governance, trust, and sustainable development. He noted that transparency and citizen engagement enable more responsive and impactful development outcomes.
“Through this initiative, accountability will no longer be seen as an unnecessary demand from citizens but as a shared responsibility among local leaders, citizens, and development partners,” Mr Odoom stated.
