SEND GHANA, HIVOS People Unlimited Organization working together to improve service delivery to citizens

SEND GHANA and HIVOS People Unlimited Organization are working together to track District Development Facility (DDF) releases in 30 districts in Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

SEND GHANA has worked to complement efforts of government, parliament and other institutions in ensuring good governance and therefore will hinge the DDF project on the success of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) project implemented by SEND GHANA between 2008 and 2012.

To introduce stakeholders to the project dubbed: “Promoting development effectiveness through transparent and accountable management of the DDF” and promote local ownership and build synergies among stakeholders within and beyond its implementation period, an inception meeting was held for stakeholders in Accra on 19th November, 2015.

With a £200,000 funding support from HIVOS, SEND GHANA and its local development partners which include local assemblies and Focal Non-Governmental Organisations (FNGOs) are expected within the next three years (2015-2017) implement a set of interventions, notably the use of social and public accountability tools, to strengthen citizens’ oversight of capital development projects in their respective district assemblies.

Making information on capital projects available and accessible to citizens to enable them independently monitor and assess the planning and execution of these projects would be critical in the implementation of this project. In cases where such projects are either poorly executed or not even at all, citizens would be supported to engage effectively with their respective public officers to ask relevant questions in their quest to demand improved performance.

Unlike the DACF, very little is known by citizens about the existence of the District Development Facility (DDF). Most citizens are largely unaware of the DDF because information is not readily available and even where information exists; it is largely couched in technical terms making it incomprehensible to ordinary citizens.

As a result, citizens are unable to engage duty bearers on effective use of the fund for the benefit of the poor and the marginalised in Ghana.

About 3,000 community members from the 30 districts would benefit from sensitization on DDF at community durbars to be organised by the DCMCs in collaboration with metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

Upper West Region: Wa East, Wa West , Sissala West, Lawra, Jirapa, Nadowli, Lambussie and Wa Municipal.

Upper East Region: Bawku Municipal, Bawku West, Bolga Municipal, Talensi, Kasena/Nakane West and Bongo.

Northern Region: Zabzugu, Yendi, Chereponi, West Mamprusi, Savelugu/Nanton, West Gonja, East Gonja, Tamale Metro and Tolon.

Greater Accra: Ga South, Shai-Osudoku, Ga East, Osu Clottey, Ada East, Ga West and Adentan