The Mother of All Nations Foundation (MOANF) has successfully held a strategic training workshop aimed at strengthening citizen participation, promoting accountability, and enhancing local governance practices within the Madina Municipality. The workshop took place on October 12, 2025, at the Queen of Peace Catholic Church Conference Hall in Madina.
The capacity-building event brought together Unit Committee Members from Madina West, Tatatana South, and Social Welfare South, alongside media practitioners and vibrant civic groups actively engaged in community development. This training forms part of MOANF’s ongoing efforts under the “I Am Aware” (IAA) social accountability initiative implemented in collaboration with CDD-Ghana and supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Facilitated by Abubakar Ishaq Zico Newton, Executive Director of MOANF, the workshop focused on deepening participants’ knowledge of local governance structures, their constitutional mandates, and their role in strengthening transparency and accountability at the community level.
Representing CDD-Ghana, Mr. Paul Suhini Salifu delivered a presentation on the IAA project, emphasizing its relevance in empowering citizens, especially youth, with the information and tools required to drive evidence-based advocacy and improve public service delivery.
Participants also benefited from an insightful presentation by Madam Charity, a governance expert, who elaborated on the vital role Unit Committee Members play within the local government system. She reiterated that although their work is voluntary, their responsibilities are critical to community mobilization, revenue sensitization, data support, and bridging communication between citizens and their elected Assembly Members. She further highlighted the indispensable role of the media in shaping public discourse, promoting transparency, and informing citizens.
Identified Challenges and Action Points
The dialogue segment of the workshop highlighted key governance challenges, including:
- Weak coordination between Unit Committee Members and Assembly structures
- Political interference affecting collaboration
- Community-level data gaps and challenges in revenue mobilization
- Low public recognition of the role of Unit Committee Members
Participants agreed on the following next steps:
- Joint trainings to clarify mandates and strengthen collaboration
- Increased public sensitization on community roles and civic responsibilities
- Strengthening partnerships with health, education, and sanitation bodies to improve data access
- Encouraging Unit Committee Members to leverage media and digital platforms for public education
Commitment to Continued Engagement
The workshop concluded with a firm commitment to deepen stakeholder collaboration, which gave birth to the formation of the Citizen-Level Social Accountability Groups (SAGs) to further strengthen community-driven governance reforms within the municipality.
The training ended at 12:20 PM, with MOANF expressing profound appreciation to all participants for their active engagement and dedication to building a more accountable and development-oriented local governance system.
About Mother of All Nations Foundation (MOANF)
MOANF is a Ghanaian non-profit organization committed to advancing education, good governance, social accountability, youth empowerment, and community development. The Foundation works with development partners, local authorities, and civil society organizations to drive sustainable change and improve the quality of life for underserved communities.
