NCCE Calls for Stronger Community Spirit as Wassa Akropong Zonal Council Members Take Office

The development of a community does not depend on government alone; when citizens come together, they can help transform the places they call home. This was the message from the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) as newly inaugurated members of the Wassa Akropong Zonal Council were sworn into office.

The engagement held at the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal Assembly Hallprovided an opportunity to educate the new Zonal Council members on sanitation, decentralisation and local government, as well as the importance of reviving the spirit of communal participation at the grassroots level.

Speaking during the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Daniel Boateng, NCCE Municipal Director for Wassa Amenfi East, explained the importance of citizens understanding how decentralisation and local government operate and the role they can play in the development of their communities.

He emphasised that decentralisation brings governance closer to the people and provides opportunities for citizens to participate in decisions and development initiatives that affect their daily lives. He therefore encouraged the newly inaugurated members to see their positions as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between local authorities and community members.

Mr. Boateng also drew attention to sanitation, stressing the need for citizens to take greater responsibility for maintaining clean and healthy communities. He called for renewed commitment to communal activities, particularly those aimed at addressing sanitation challenges and improving local infrastructure.

According to him, the spirit of communal labour and self-help, which has traditionally contributed to development at the grassroots level, should be revived. He encouraged communities to identify their needs, mobilise their members and undertake projects that can complement the efforts of the Municipal Assembly.

The ceremony brought together Mr. Emmanuel Ayah, Finance Officer of the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal Assembly (WAEMA); Mr. Edward Amoah, Deputy Director 2A of WAEMA; Assembly Members; Unit Committee Members from the two Zonal Councils; and heads of department from Physical Planning, Finance and the NCCE.

Also present was Nana Addei Mununkum, Chief of Gyabode in Wassa Akropong, whose presence underscored the importance of traditional and community leadership in advancing local development.

In all, 31 people, comprising 27 men and 4 women, participated in the engagement.

The programme reinforced the message that effective decentralisation requires more than structures and elected representatives. It also depends on active citizens who are willing to participate, take responsibility for their communities and work together to address local challenges.

As the new Zonal Council members begin their roles, the NCCE encouraged them to champion sanitation, civic participation and community-led development, helping to rebuild the spirit of collective action at the grassroots level.