Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, is advocating grassroot participation in governance by calling on citizens to hold leadership accountable.

She says continued apathy of the citizenry in the governance process will not only breed non-performing and non-accountable leadership, but also impede development at the local level.

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings was speaking in Kumasi at a governance forum organized by the Community Organization Bureau Network of Ghana (COBNOG) and the Development Women Movement said to replace the 31st December Women Movement.

Through the two civil society groups, the National Democratic Party (NDP) - which she leads - hopes to sensitize Ghanaians in a nationwide campaign aimed at encouraging public participation in local development through participation.

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings said leadership has failed to be accountable because the citizenry has lost its watchdog role of holding those in office accountable.

"We must tell ourselves that we want Ghana to work with special emphasis on integrity. You cannot be involved when you leave your leader to do what he likes; then you are not involved". Mrs. Rawlings stressed.

According to her, the National Democratic Party has a passion to lead a campaign to whip up public interest and enthusiasm to hold leadership accountable.

First she wants the populace to be awakened from the general silence to criticize some governing decisions and  take part in the national discourse.

She maintains non-participation by the citizenry as suicidal to the development of Ghana.

The former First Lady is also unhappy the District Assembly Concept has lost its core mandate of promoting decentralized local governance and development.

"There has to be a point of turning round. We are all involved means; you are there to correct. We are not involved to spoil", she said.