The Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA) in the Greater Accra Region has organised a one-day orientation workshop to build the capacity of its Unit Committee Members in community governance and development.

The training, held on Friday, September 12 at Abokobi, brought together all 50 Unit Committee Members drawn from the Municipality’s 10 electoral areas.

It marked the first time in the Assembly’s history since its establishment in 2004 that such a programme had been organised for Unit Committees.

Opening the workshop, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Edmund Agboh, underscored the importance of Unit Committees in Ghana’s decentralisation system.

“Unit Committees are the foundation of grassroots democracy.

They mobilise communities, promote participation, and ensure citizens’ voices are heard in decision-making,” he said.

“For this reason, the Assembly has prioritised equipping you with the knowledge and skills required to serve diligently.”

He urged participants to actively engage in the sessions, share experiences, and apply the lessons learned to support the Assembly’s work for the benefit of residents.

The Presiding Member (PM), Mr Bright Paul Mintah, who recommended the organisation of the training, assured the MCE of his continued guidance and support.

He commended the Assembly for turning the proposal into reality, while the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Mr. Nii-Amarh Ashitey, was praised for mobilising resources to make the programme possible.

Participants were taken through a series of topics, including roles and responsibilities of Unit Committee Members, local governance laws and procedures, community engagement, conflict resolution, consensus building, and monitoring mechanisms.

The sessions were led by Dr. Felix Agyei Amakye, a political economist and lecturer at the Institute of Local Government Studies.

The Assembly’s Human Resource Manager, Ms. Marianne Aba Abraham, expressed appreciation to the MCE and PM for their commitment to strengthening the capacity of Unit Committees, describing the initiative as a significant step toward improving service delivery and community development.

Hon. Agboh closed the session with a call for collective action: “Together, let us work to deepen grassroots democracy, strengthen community participation, and accelerate the development of our Municipality.”