The Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment Ghana (RISE-Ghana), a Non-Governmental Organisation in partnership with the Star Ghana Foundation, has launched a project to track party manifestoes beyond elections in Bolgatanga, Nabdam, and Bongo Districts. The project, with funding support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom (UK), is dubbed 'Democracy 360: Sustaining Inclusive Civic Engagement to Track Party Manifestoes Beyond Elections in Ghana'. It seeks to guarantee sustainable access to inclusive and quality social services among excluded and under-represented groups such as persons with disabilities, women, youth, and ethnic minorities, among others, by using civic engagement and self-advocacy to hold political parties and governments accountable beyond elections, based on their party manifestoes and national policies. The project also focused on leveraging and harnessing the latent political activism within the Zongo communities of the targeted districts and empowering the excluded groups to exercise their civic rights, influence political party manifestoes, and strengthen accountability. Mr Ahmed Awal Kariama, the Executive Director of RISE-Ghana, addressing stakeholders at the launch in Bolgatanga, indicated that the project objective would be achieved by mobilising and building the capacity of the excluded groups in civic engagement and creating platforms for interface, such as interparty debates and public forums, among others. 'The project will impact the beneficiaries and make long-term impact beyond the project cycle by creating a culture of civic engagement beyond elections, which will be operationalised through the civic engagement action plans, leveraging local governance entry points such as medium-term development plans and strategic alliances built as a result of the project,' he added. Mr Kariama noted that only 14 per cent of members of parliament and only 35 per cent of local government councillors often listen to citizens, according to the Afr obarometer Report round 9, and that limited accountability and citizens's opportunities to influence government policies and party manifestoes. He emphasised that strengthening the civic engagement capacity of the youth, informal sector traders, Gen Z, the media, artisans, and persons with disabilities through the project was crucial to reversing the trend. Mr William Obeng Adarkwa, the Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, who launched the project, said he recognised the immense value of the project in promoting democracy and good governance in the country. According to him, the active participation of all citizens, especially those traditionally excluded, was essential for inclusive development. 'As an Electoral Management body, which strongly shares in the principle of inclusiveness, I humbly say my outfit remains open to further discussions on how to make the upcoming election much more inclusive, ensuring that everyone exercises their franchise without difficulty,' he stressed. M r Adarkwa commended RISE-Ghana and its partners, describing the project as 'an important initiative' and encouraged all stakeholders to support the novel project. Mr James Abdulai Ayaala, the Upper East Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said the launch of the project was in the right direction and timely given that little attention was paid to manifestoes after elections and the implementation of the project would ensure good governance and accountability. Mr Alfred A. Ndagu, the Head of Education Committee of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, reiterated that inclusivity and accountability would ensure good governance and maintain the pace of the country for sustainable development. Source: Ghana News Agency