On November 5, 2025, the Mother of All Nations Foundation (MOANF), in strategic partnership with the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and William and Flora Hewllet Foundation convened a landmark stakeholder engagement session at the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly Hall. This pivotal gathering marked the formal introduction of the “I Am Aware” (IAA) social accountability initiative to key municipal actors and set the stage for collaborative action on pressing development challenges.
The engagement brought together a diverse coalition of stakeholders critical to effective local governance and service delivery. Participants included the Municipal Chief Director (Deputy), Municipal Planning Officer, Municipal Education Director (Deputy), Municipal Statistics Officer, National Commission for Civic Education Director (NCCE), Madina Zonal Council Chairman, Presiding Member, and Assembly Members from Madina West, Tatana South, and Social Welfare electoral areas, alongside technical officers and civic leaders.
Driving Transparency and Accountability Through Data
The IAA initiative, spearheaded by CDD-Ghana and now locally championed by the Mother of All Nations Foundation, aims to empower citizens with accessible, data-driven tools to monitor public service delivery and demand responsive governance. By fostering transparency and strengthening citizen participation, the project seeks to improve outcomes in education, health, sanitation, water, and social protection.
Implementation will begin in three pilot electoral areas—Madina West, Tatana South, and Social Welfare—with a focus on:
- Raising awareness of the IAA platform
- Identifying community-specific service delivery gaps
- Establishing Social Accountability Groups (SAGs) to monitor and advocate for improvements
Community-Led Solutions for Inclusive Development
During the session, Executive Director Ishaq Abubakar Zico Newton reaffirmed Mother of all Nations Foundation’s commitment to equipping communities with the knowledge and tools needed to influence decision-making. “When citizens have access to reliable data, they gain the leverage to hold duty bearers accountable and shape the development outcomes that matter most to them,” he stated.
MOANF also presented a desk review report highlighting systemic challenges within the municipality, including:
- Weak communication between assembly authorities and residents
- Poor sanitation in public schools
- Inadequate teacher motivation and overcrowded classrooms
- Disproportionate student-teacher ratios
- Absence of standardized systems to track BECE performance
- Teacher and Student Absenteeism,
- Weak maintenance culture in public facilities
These issues were openly discussed and unanimously acknowledged as barriers to inclusive development. Stakeholders expressed strong support for the IAA initiative and called for capacity-building sessions for Unit Committee members to enhance their understanding of their mandates and improve service delivery at the grassroots level.
A Model for Civic Engagement and Local Transformation
The “I Am Aware” initiative, launched by CDD-Ghana in 2011 with support from the Hewlett Foundation, is now in its fourth implementation phase (2023–2027) and active in selected districts across 11 of Ghana’s 16 regions. Its expansion into Madina represents a significant step toward building a more informed, engaged, and proactive citizenry.
As stakeholders unite around shared goals and homegrown solutions, Madina stands poised to become a model of inclusive development and accountable leadership. The Mother of All Nations Foundation remains committed to facilitating this transformation ensuring that community voices are not only heard, but translated into meaningful action.
By Hamdiya Abdul Razak: Mother of all Nations Foundation
