By Marcella Mwinkoma Babing
The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs is taking steps to strengthen citizen participation in local governance through enhanced public engagement and live media coverage of District Assembly and town hall meetings.
The Minister – Mahama Ayariga, held a meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026 at the Ministry with some key stakeholders to discuss measures to deepen citizen participation and public engagement in the District Assembly process.
The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has been entrusted with providing live coverage of these meetings to broaden access to local governance discussions, particularly for citizens who may be unable to attend in person.
To support effective coverage and address logistical challenges, 51 pickup vehicles are expected to be procured and distributed among the Regional Planning Coordinating Units of RCCs , the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and GBC.
The Minister also stressed the need to introduce measures that will generate greater public interest and excitement around Assembly meetings.
He noted that increased public engagement could contribute to improving the quality of participation in Assembly elections while encouraging more citizens to take an active interest in local governance.
Among the proposed measures is the use of radio and other media platforms to announce meeting dates, replay key discussions from previous meetings, and open the platforms for the public to critique decisions, ask questions and make recommendations.
The initiative is also expected to give Public Relations Officers (PROs) of various Assemblies greater visibility and encourage Assembly Members to make better use of the media to communicate development activities, policies and decisions to their constituents.
The move forms part of broader efforts to bring governance closer to the people and strengthen accountability, transparency and citizen participation at the local level.
