A Senior Programmes Officer at SEND Ghana Harriet Nuamah Agyemang has called on the public to take keen interest in issues regarding governance of the country.
According to her, public participation in governance is not only one of their civic responsibility but will also help in deepening decision making while making sure that those in authority get to hear their input on national issues, especially in national budget preparation.
She said “The budget is about the citizenry, so before the budget is read, citizens must show interest, by discussing with their leaders what they expect from them”.
Mrs. Agyemang who made the call at the end of a two-day conference in Accra, said the budget was the government’s intention of what it wanted to do for the people based on their needs, while indicating means of revenue generation to address those needs, adding “That’s why the public need to take interest and make submissions. The budget is about you, me and us”.
She said taking the backseat and not getting involved in the process meant that the citizens were willing and ready to accept anything government presented.
“The budget helps us to know and question whether the government is able to raise the funding that it required to fund the needs of its people and has put funds raised into appropriate use, we will be able to ask questions concerning government activities and interventions only if we delve into the budget,” she said.
