Abiire Awineyesema, from the Department of Accounting and Finance at Bolgatanga Technical University, has argued that a fundamental misunderstanding of local governance principles lies at the heart of the Bongo District’s developmental challenges. “I think we lack a fundamental or basic understanding of the concept of local governance,” he stated.
According to him, local governance should focus on combating poverty, addressing marginalization, and fostering collaboration among residents to create bylaws that can drive the district forward. However, he believes that political interference has undermined these efforts.
The expert expressed concern that local governance has increasingly become a tool for political gain rather than a means to promote collective community development.
“Unfortunately, politicians have come in to mar the system, to destroy the fabric of local governance. It now appears to me like a political win or an extension of partisan politics, where it is no longer about what we can collectively achieve but about what benefits a particular political party — a party that may not even have a head office in the Upper East Region, let alone in Bongo. I think this is a very bad development,” he lamented.
This shift, he claims, has created an environment where development efforts are largely influenced by national political agendas, often to the detriment of the district’s actual needs.
Mr. Awineyesema also criticized the performance of the district’s assembly members, stating that their failure to properly advocate for the appointment of a Presiding Member (PM) has further hindered progress. He urged local leaders to take greater responsibility for improving the governance structure and ensuring that development initiatives align with the true needs of the people of Bongo.
“Why other districts have been able to do it but the Bongo District has failed to appoint a PM is something I lay squarely on us, the assembly members. We were supposed to do better,” he remarked.
According to Mr. Awineyesema, addressing these governance issues and prioritizing the community’s collective interests over political gain could unlock significant development potential for the district.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com|101.1MHz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga|
