By Saskia Warrick – January 2, 2025
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development will conduct impact assessments at Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Regions 4 and 5 to evaluate the implementation of best practices following recent training programs.
The assessments are part of an effort to enhance governance, accountability, and transparency at the local level.
The training, which covered critical areas such as legal affairs, financial management, community involvement, and record management, was provided to overseers and councillors in the two regions.
The upcoming assessments will focus on ensuring that these best practices are being effectively implemented and adhered to, with an emphasis on preventing any breaches in governance.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag, highlighted the importance of local leaders in promoting national development and strengthening democracy within their communities.
She emphasized that the goal is to ensure that the local government bodies are functioning optimally, which in turn will help foster national progress.
While the training and subsequent assessments initially targeted Regions 4 and 5, due to their size and scope, Parag noted that this initiative will eventually be expanded to other regions across the country.
She reaffirmed that this effort aligns with the PPP/C Government’s manifesto, which seeks to improve public service delivery and ensure better governance at the local level.
As part of the ongoing push to strengthen local government structures, the Ministry is also planning to replicate this training and assessment process nationwide to enhance the capacity of all NDCs to serve their communities effectively.