Government officials will continue to provide projects and social infrastructure that may not be on their priority list, if the citizenry do not question the decisions by their leaders, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has said.

“There are instances where residents in a particular community tend to defecate in a newly constructed classroom blocks.

“This is because they urgently needed a proper place of convenience instead of the classroom block,” the Commission’s Municipal Director at Obuasi in the Ashanti region said.

Adam Siddique said this during a public forum held in Odumase in the Obuasi East District as part of its mandate to educate citizens on civic matters.

He stressed that certain unpleasant issues would not arise if community members dialogue with local government officials to discuss their major problems and urged the people of Odumase to do so.

Mr Siddique maintained that when the people decide to apportion blame on government officials and hesitate to ask questions or confront them with their most pressing needs, they will be provided with projects which may not be needed in their communities.

The forum brought together traditional leaders, assembly members, officials of the district assembly, teachers, students and other community members in the Obuasi East District.

He urged citizens to engage their Assemblies through peaceful dialogues and put before them some major problems encountered in their various communities.

Community members and the gathered stakeholders were encouraged to as much as possible to collectively find basic solutions in tackling some of their local problems in that such efforts could attract external support from local government officials.

The assembly member of the area, Ankapong Fofie took the opportunity to encourage community members to change their attitude towards communal labour.

He reiterated the need for them to adhere to good sanitary practices and protect the environment against diseases associated with dirty and filthy environments.

Community Challenges

Aside from the civic education that the forum is meant for, it also allows for the public to share their problems in the communities and seek answers.

The problems ranged from access to good drinking water among the Odumase people and the need to fix damaged pipes in the communities.

Mr Fofie, however, promised the people of urgent intervention to fix the damaged pipes.

Other matters included lack of electric poles and toilet facilities in some new settlements, AGA recruitment opportunities, proper sewage and drainage systems.  

Meanwhile, the DCE of the area, Faustina Amissah and Obuasi East MP, Dr. Patrick Boakye-Yiadom are scheduled to cut the sod for the construction of Clinic and Kindergarten in the Odumase community.

Benkumhene of Oduamase, Nana Kwamoah Bosompem, pleaded with community members to support the leadership in addressing some of the problems facing the community.