GJA begins Local Government project with support from STAR-Ghana

The Ghana Journalists Association, GJA in partnership with STAR-Ghana, has launched a project to promote inclusive local governance.
Under the project, GJA will carry out an integrated set of media interventions by collaborating with Civil Society in order to foster and strengthen the seemingly weak collaboration between them.
Also, the partnership is expected to contribute to enrich citizens’ access to quality information through structured media platforms and CSOs outlets.
At the launch President of the GJA, Affail Monney said the organization will form and nurture a group of Journalists and equip them with knowledge and information to report as well as develop news stories around inclusive local governance for publication said the media-CSOs partnership will contribute to promoting broad-base and decentralized government as well as position citizens to effectively participate in inclusive local governance and development Sandra Amanful who was at the launch reports that the critical role of civil society cannot be underrated.
The role of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs including the media is critical for effective economic governance.
CSOs Media advocates in Ghana is characterized by weak collaboration in many instances which can be attributed to inadequate policy literacy among Journalists and Civil Society actors and citizens on the other hand at the local government level.
This has affected the manner in which some Journalists and CSOs analyze and frame community and policy issues for public deliberation.
It has also affected the quality of responsible Journalism and developmental governance.
The Ghana Journalists Association for this reason is implementing an 18-month project with funding from STAR-Ghana to strengthen media and CSOs collaboration for inclusive and accountable local government.

The project will position the media and CSOs to gain further insights into the political economy of Ghana and enhance the quality of CSOs activities by offering them structured media platform to increase the spread of success stories.
The Program Director at Star-Ghana, Amidu Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu said there is the need for the project to be monitored and that responsibility lies on the shoulders of the leadership of the GJA.
Development Consultant, Douglas Quartey too participants through the rudiments of project management and advised that it is important to respect the time lines on the project to ensure its successful implementation.
Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, O.B Amoah described the GJA’s local government project and reminded all journalists of need to intensify education on proposed reforms in relation to local governance, most especially, in ”regards to the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives, MMDCEs”.
The project is being sponsored by STAR-Ghana, with support from UK Aid, the European Union and DANIDA.
By Sandra Amanful.