NGO Launches Online Platform to Improve Service Delivery

NGO Launches Online Platform to Improve Service Delivery
This story originally appeared on www.ghanaweb.com.
Global Communities, a non-governmental organisation, in partnership with Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), has successfully launched an online platform to monitor and track service delivery in the metropolis.
The platform, known as “SMARTSOL” is first to be introduced in any of the assemblies in the country, and would facilitate quality service delivery in the areas of waste management, non-functioning traffic and street lights, utility services, education issues, abandoned vehicles, unauthorised construction of buildings among other pertinent issues. This is to enable residents of the metropolis to engage the officials of the assembly to express their concerns on service delivery and receive feedback from them.
Speaking at a media interaction forum in Takoradi to launch the online platform on Thursday, Mr. Ebenezer Kye-Mensah, Capacity Building Specialist with the NGO, said the platform had in-built features for persons that logged onto the system to state the location of the issue while a page had been created for them to report the details of the problem. He said residents of the twin-city could log onto the system via the website (www.twincityghana.com) and also call the Client Service Unit of the Assembly via the following toll free numbers: MTN 18206, Vodafone 080011903 and other networks on 0540118206.
He indicated that individuals with smartphones with internet accessibility could log-on and upload pictures onto the system, and said media houses could also create an account so that they could monitor and access progress made on reported cases. He said individuals without internet access could call the Client Service Unit via 0312046371 to make enquiries and report service delivery complaints and receive feedback from city officials as well.
Mr Kye-Mensah said the online service platform formed part of the IncluCity project started by the NGO about three years ago to give a platform to the vulnerable in society to express their concerns on social issues militating against them and improve service delivery. Moreover, he said, a radio programme was being held every month, as one of the strategies to increase women’s participation in governance and decision-making process and elicit citizens’ feedback on service delivery.
“This programme was introduced to complement the work of the Citizens Report Card Committee in providing feedback on service delivery complaints to citizens and service providers as well as creating awareness of the different platforms,” he said.
Mr. John Gokermiah, Waste Management Director at the STMA, welcomed the introduction of the online platform in the metropolis because it would enable him to ascertain various waste management challenges and respond appropriately.