Residents of the Weija-Gbawe Municipality have benefitted from an easier access to a number of essential government services following the organisation of a three-day Governance Cards, Business and Books Fair by the Governance Bureau.
The maiden edition of the community-focused initiative, held from October 2 to 4, brought selected public institutions and private businesses together to provide services and opportunities directly to residents within their communities.
The initiative was designed to reduce the difficulties residents often encounter when travelling to various government offices to access basic documentation and other public services.
Among the services made available at the fair were Ghana Card registration and related services, Births and Deaths Registry services, passport application assistance, business certificate registration and other opportunities for entrepreneurs.
The event also provided a platform for small and medium-sized enterprises to display, promote and sell their products, creating an avenue for local businesses to connect with potential customers.
Speaking during the programme, Founder of the Governance Bureau and former Presiding Member of the Ga South and Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assemblies, Hon. Patrick Baidoo, popularly known as Blue Boy, said the initiative was conceived to bring governance closer to ordinary citizens.
According to him, public institutions were making efforts to serve the population, but more could be achieved when such services were taken directly into communities.
“My organization is called Governance Bureau. We stand for good governance with a focus on human development and community-centered initiatives for socio-economic development,” he said.
Hon. Baidoo explained that the Governance Bureau had its roots in community interventions aimed at addressing practical needs affecting residents.
He said shortly after the organisation was established, it embarked on a pilot community health screening exercise with support from pharmaceutical companies.
The exercise provided residents with health screening services as well as medication for common conditions, including malaria, infections and headaches.
He said the experience demonstrated the impact that could be achieved when organisations worked directly with communities, leading to the expansion of the Bureau’s activities into other areas of public service delivery.
“The idea came from the fact that I have been to every institution in Ghana — the National Health Insurance Authority, the Births and Deaths Registry, Foreign Affairs, the Passport Office. They are all doing well, but they can’t do it alone. Part of their current model is to get closer to the communities,” he explained.
At the three-day fair, officials from the National Identification Authority assisted residents with Ghana Card-related services, while the Births and Deaths Registry also provided services to members of the public.
The presence of the various service providers enabled residents to deal with multiple administrative needs at one location, saving them the time and transportation costs associated with visiting different institutions.
The programme also had a strong business component, with local entrepreneurs given the opportunity to showcase their products and engage directly with prospective customers.
Hon. Baidoo expressed satisfaction with the response from residents, describing the turnout as encouraging despite the challenges involved in organising the event.
“It has been hectic and stressful, but it’s worth it. My happiness comes from the large turnout and the fact that people are actually being attended to and getting what they came for,” he stated.
He disclosed that the Governance Bureau intended to make the initiative a regular community-based programme rather than a one-off event.
He particularly acknowledged the support of the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Felix Odartey, and the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Jerry Ahmed, describing their backing as important to the success of the initiative.
According to him, subsequent editions would be rotated across different communities within the Weija-Gbawe Municipality to ensure that residents in various parts of the municipality benefit from the services.
Hon. Baidoo expressed appreciation to God and the individuals, institutions and organisations whose support contributed to the success of the maiden edition.
He said the Governance Bureau would continue to explore practical ways of connecting citizens with public institutions while supporting initiatives that promote human development, entrepreneurship and improved community wellbeing.
The maiden fair therefore marked an important step in the organisation’s broader objective of making governance more accessible, participatory and responsive to the everyday needs of residents.
