Sekyere afram plains: Vision for Action Foundation (VAF), a community-based organisation in the Sekyere Afram Plains District, is enhancing collaboration between the District Assembly and citizens to improve transparency and effectiveness in project implementation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Foundation, in collaboration with the District Planning Coordinating Unit (DPCU), has been engaging executives of the Zonal Councils on the formulation of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), in line with the latest guidelines from the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC). The objective is to promote active citizen involvement in shaping their communities’ development agenda and to encourage public monitoring of the MTDP’s implementation.
In addition to its work with zonal leadership, VAF has organised community needs assessment meetings across all four zones of the district – Drobonso, Hamidu, Dawia, and Anyinofi. These meetings created inclusive platforms for citizens, including persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, to contribute to the development planning process.
The activities are part of the ‘I Am Aware’ project, a non-partisan citizen empowerment initiative, led by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana). The project provides free, user-friendly data on the state of public service delivery in key sectors such as education, health, sanitation, water, security, roads, and agriculture. ‘I Am Aware’ aims to promote accountability and responsiveness by strengthening citizen engagement with duty bearers on issues affecting their daily lives.
In the Sekyere Afram Plains District, the project is being implemented in partnership with VAF, which has been leading a series of community sensitisation sessions to educate citizens on local governance and their role in demanding accountability. During the needs assessment meetings, residents consistently highlighted key development priorities, including toilet facilities, potable water, electrification, and classroom blocks.
Mr. Owuraku Boafo Justice, Coordinator of VAF, urged participants to track the implementation of development projects outlined in the MTDP and to ask relevant questions about their progress and quality. He also encouraged community members to share information about planned projects widely, to ensure collective awareness and unified demand for quality service delivery.