K'DUA HOSTS RAVI FESTIVAL (PAGE 20)

A FESTIVAL to showcase the activities of community-based organisations (CBOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was held at the Mac Dic Royal Plaza in Koforidua at the weekend.
The festival, on the theme: “Citizen government engagement — A key to sustainable grassroots development”, was organised by Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI), an NGO, with funding from the Department for International Development (DFID).
The event was to enable the CBOs and the NGOs to share ideas with a view to improving their performances to enhance the living standards of people benefiting from their services.
Some of the activities were in the areas of child labour, environmental cleanliness, HIV/AIDS awareness, inability of children to be enrolled in school, women empowerment in various fields such as poverty alleviation, human rights, particularly the right of women to inherit property, domestic violence and income generation ventures.
In an address, the Project Co-ordinator of RAVI, Mr Sam Ocran, said the decision to hold the festival was to offer the grassroot groups the opportunity to share their experiences and learn from the others for the necessary support.
He stated that his outfit had assisted its partners (CBOs) to promote the rights of the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged sections of the society such as women, children and disabled so that they would be able to enjoy life.
RAVI, he said, had also supported the CBOs and local NGOs to engage the district assemblies in development issues such as education, health, water and sanitation, as well as assisting civil society to deal with negative cultural practices, adding that in all, 104 CBOs and 34 NGOs from all parts of the country had been involved.
Addressing the participants, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration would continue to provide a favourable atmosphere for what he termed “government and citizens” engagement, as well as encourage rights-based civil society activities.
He added that provision had been made in that respect in the NDC manifesto.
He said they included transparency of the government in decision-making, accountability in both public and private sectors, public participation in decision-making, decentralisation, devolution of power and observation of both rights and responsibilities.
The implementation of those provisions, Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated, was to buttress the fact that governance must necessarily focus on strengthening the voice and the capacity of the people, especially the poor and the vulnerable.
He expressed his appreciation at the efforts being made by the CBOs and the NGOs to enhance the capacity of the people, and called on them to also assist in dealing with HIV/AIDS.