The Northern Ghana Network for Development (Network) an NGO and the Voluntary Service Organisation (VSO) are embarking on a project to assist district assemblies to build their capacities through placement of volunteers in the assemblies. The initiative is to help fill the gap created by the lack of competent staff at the local and district levels to strengthen district assemblies and the decentralisation process. Mr. Ismail Lansah, Executive Secretary of the Network, said this at a stakeholders' consultative workshop the NGO organised in Tamale on Thursday. He said under the project, the Network would coordinate the process of seeking volunteer support and transfer of competent human resources to district assemblies in the three northern regions. The project also seeks to improve the capacities of 15 district assemblies in the three northern regions to function as effective mechanisms for promoting sustainable local development. He said the project would initially target deprived areas and newly created districts in the three regions. Volunteers made up of experienced development practitioners and other professionals would be engaged to give advice and support to the assemblies. Mr. Lansah said the project would also engage the services of corporate volunteers, whereby firms would adopt a district and support the district assembly through personnel development. Another area of support would be using the services of undergraduates from universities' Planning Departments as part of their course assessment to help out with specific task such as assisting in budget preparation. Mr. Lansah said the second stage of the project would involve some private sector players such as financial institutions and other commercial entities. He said private sector organisations would be encouraged to adopt any of the participating district assemblies to benefit from corporate social responsibility projects. Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, said in a speech read for him that the government had embarked on a programme to tap all human resources available and to offer opportunities to as many Ghanaians as possible, especially the youth through the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP). He said there was a close link between the NYEP and the National volunteering Programme for the promotion of decentralisation and good governance. Alhaji Idris urged private sector organisations and other commercial entities to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the project to participate in the promotion of decentralisation and good governance. Source: GNA