The document summarizes a public policy research and development competition implemented under the 'Stepping-Out Ghana' program in 2012. It discusses the pre-competition exercises conducted with participating clubs, including training workshops. It then describes the competition held in December 2012, where three schools presented their policy research and development portfolios to a panel of judges. The schools addressed issues like access to clean drinking water and lack of parental care. The top school received a prize of books. The summary highlights the overall program and competition goals of promoting youth civic engagement and advocacy in local communities.

1. REPORT ON ‘PROJECT CiTiZEN’ PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTED UNDER ‘STEPPING-OUT GHANA’ PROGRAM-2012
DEVELOPMENT THREADING; A CRITICAL UNDERTAKING
- Where is the needle eye?
promoting citizen participation through policy research and development in the eastern region of Ghana

2. create a platform that enable decentralized departments
and sub national institutions become more accountable
and responsive to specific needs of their constituents
improve leadership qualities and abilities of Zonal, Town,
Area council, Unit committee and project citizen
executives using integrated learning systems
facilitate an improved and sustainable social service
delivery system in which citizens and local government
actors are working together in a more healthy and open
manner
The programme is unique in itself but not isolated because it
forms the beating heart of the ‘S-O Ghana’ program; enabling us
to reach out to a wider variety of our audience using the
student-based clubs.
As readers go through this report, it is our fervent hope that
they will find something worthwhile of our activities and thereby
see need to support us.
Have a good time with the rest of the pages that follow.
INTRODUCTION
Mr. Mahama Muta-wakilu (PTL) delivering an address
AFES is a community-based, advocacy-oriented, development-
facilitator NGO operating in schools and communities in the
Eastern region.’ Stepping-Out Ghana’ is a medium to long term
agenda developed in 2010 intended to galvanize local
community effort towards accelerated rural development in the
province. At the center of the agenda is a community welfare
programme dubbed ‘Project Citizen’. It is a civic empowerment
strategy intended to teach high school children between the
ages of thirteen (13) and nineteen (19) about the function of
government and what supportive role that they (communities)
need to play to promote quality social service delivery especially
at the local level through increased active citizenship.
Motivated by clause 240(e) and the Local Government Act of
1993, Act 462, the strategy has the following characteristics:

3. PRE-COMPETITION EXERCISES
a. ToT for Club patrons
In November 2011, we resolved to conduct project citizen platform
annually intended to reach out and mobilize clubs to undertake
community-based research; and development of their findings into
the form of public policy/policies
We facilitate the activities of clubs in eight Junior High Schools
(JHS) in Yilo-krobo municipality with an ultimate objective of
building their capacity in public policy advocacy for enhanced
grassroots participation and community development.
In February (24th
-25th
) 2012, we did a two-day Training of Trainer
(ToT) workshop for 8 club patrons from target schools.
Workshop aim was to take patrons through the modalities of public
policy research and development and to deliberate about the new
local government structure. They were also taking through some
topics including
-Community and internal resource mobilization
-Leadership polarities and group dynamics
-Budgeting, bookkeeping and other forms of documentation
-Participatory Action Planning
Club patrons at a ToT workshop-guided by Community facilitators
b. Project citizen work clinic
In May 2012, a work clinic was organized for 48 members
and 8 patrons at the Boti waterfall premises.
The aim of this work session was to take participants
through a four-stage framework adopted to be used as a
guide in preparation of members for the competition.
Session was successful and was supported by Nestle Ghana
Club participants expressing their thoughts at the clinic

4. Community facilitators taking a time out
Evaluators drawn from POs including KROBODAN, PPAG,
PHILIP foundation, NCCE, DEO-SHEP,
c. Community Outreach
We embarked on a thorough school visitation to coach and
encourage clubs. AFES help to facilitate/review School
Performance Improvement Plans (SPIPs) and advocate that
SPIPs be basis of selecting class/club policy issue to be
researched. Prominent issues on the SPIP must therefore
inform the topic selected by the club.
All 8 participating Clubs were supported with micro-grants of
GHC 70.00 each and other materials including A4 sheets, flip
chart papers, folders and markers amounting to GHC 30.00.
School level rehearsals were done and supervised. A tossing
exercise was also held at our PMO to enable contesting clubs
toss for their positions of presentation
d. Evaluators’ Orientation
An orientation session was organized for the
evaluators/judges at Somanya on November 29,
2012.
Purpose was to take judges through the modalities of
evaluating club portfolio. Thus, they were conducted
through four important documents related to the
research and development process. Such documents
include
 Evaluators guidelines for hearing showcase
 Hearing evaluation rating sheet
 Evaluators guideline for a portfolio showcase
 Portfolio evaluation rating sheet

5. PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMPETITION
HELD AT NKURAKAN PRESBY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PREMISES
15 – 12 -2012
Participants started arriving at 9.00am. Breakfast was served by Nestle
Ghana at about 10.00am. Actual programme started at about 11:00am
with an opening prayer from Community imam.
Welcome address was done by the Program Team Leader -PTL. In his
address the PTL indicated that ‘Project citizen’ campaign is a strategic
step to enhance citizen involvement in matters of administration and
development as mandated under clause 240 (e) of the 1992
constitution and Act 462 of 1993. According to him rather than waiting
for government to provide every facility for us, time has come for us to
take the responsibility to support government to help us through the
assistants of our local representatives including Assembly persons
(APs), Unit Committees (UCs) etc.
He said, the competition is not a single event, but an activity that
climax series of preceding activities. He indicated that participants
should feel relax and recognize the day as yet a special learning
day outside of the normal classroom setting.
He also indicated that ‘project citizen’ will be paying
special visits to
 Yilo-krobo Municipal Assembly to observe
proceedings at the General Assembly Meeting
 Visit the Regional Planning Coordinating Unit
(RPCU) of the Regional Coordinating Council
(RCC) to learn about planning process and
channel of communication
 Visit Parliament house to observe proceedings in
the house. These arrangements were already
initiated said the PTL.
The PTL ended his address by saying that for
sustainability reasons there was the need for
schools/clubs to be able to mobilize their own internal
resources and refered to professor Zimama’s quote
“resources are not; they become’.
Mr. PTL formally welcome all and wished all a happy
day-
Ended at 11:15am.
At 11:16am, it was the tend of AFES Programmes
Officer in the person of Mr. Henry Adarkwah to introduce
invited guests present and set the modalities of the
showcase. He noted that most of our guests were
unable to attend citing compelling reasons why they
could not do so. He however indicated their support to
the programme
He went ahead to mention representatives of EPP
bookshop and Nestle Ghana who supported the event
with books and breakfast respectively.

6. He then introduced the panel of evaluators:
o Mr Joshua Nyumuah of Krobo-Danish Association
(KROBODAN)
o Mr Annim Nyarko of NCCE,
o Mr Awuni Anthony of Phillip foundation,
o Mr Asafo-Adjei DEO/SHEP coordinator
o Miss Divine Ntiamoah of PPAG
He introduced Mr Emmanuel Narh as the MC. and Mr.Jones Osei
Ebenezer as the Time keeper
He indicated that out of eight schools that were suppose to
participate; only three were ready to undergo the complete
process other will only observe
Modalities of the showcase
1. Each portfolio group has a duration of 5minutes for
presentation
2. Each portfolio group has 2 minutes within which to
respond to follow-up questions from the panel of
evaluators
3. We encourage support members to answer follow-up
question to promote participation of all
4. All must wear their name tags to enable them been
identified by evaluators
Details of all presentations are found in the portfolio
documentation binder submitted by clubs to the AFES PMO
Mr. Adarkwah handed over the microphone to Mr. MC. He took
his tend to read the message at (right-down side) both in
English and Danbge
At about 11:18am, he handed over to the chairman of the panel
of evaluators - Mr Joshua Nyumuah of KROBODAN to signify the
start of club hearings
Nestle Ghana serving breakfast to participnts
Lifted from barefoot guide 1

7. PRESENTATION TIME
-FACE TO FACE WITH THE ISSUES-
1 (11:20am)
School/club: Boti R/c Junior High
Patron: Elizabeth
Topic: Lack of good drinking water in the Boti community
Portfolio group 1: Identification of the problem
List of members:
-Narh Bright- leader
-Awadzi Monica and
-Tetteh Ophelia.
The student said the only source of drinking water is from
river ‘ponpon’ were children go to swim, animals do also
visit there and community people farming along the river
when the apply fertilizer and it rains it washes the chemicals
in to the river which causes a lot of serious diseases in the
community
portfolio group 2: Alternative solutions
List of members:
-Isaka Lami -leader,
-Tetteh Isaac,
-Djakwa Stephen,
-Oppong Prince and
-Amanor Victoria.
Alternative solutions to their problem are
boil the water before use
tap water
Bore-hole water
well water
Portfolio group 3: Club policy
List of members
-Asare Kofi –leader
-Akunor Samuel,
-Tandor Gloria
-Narh simon and
-Padi Joshua
They have come out with their class policy which is
construction of bore- hole and cited reasons for their
choice
Will not cost the government so much
It will save energy and time in terms of
construction it, thus a machine will be used but
not man power.
Advantages
water is safe and healthy for drinking,
it will minimize the rate of diseases including
cholera, dysentery, typhoid etc
Water availability is assured always.
Disadvantage
because they might fetch water free, community will
miss used the machine and it might breakdown.
Project citizens on good drinking water campaign errand
River ‘ponpon’

8. Portfolio group 4: Action plan
List of members
-Asarewa Wendy-leader,
-Adjiri Fred,
-Tawiah salomey and
- Kpabitey Florence
Club indicated that they will follow-up with the chief, Assembly
person, Unit committees and other stakeholders to ensure that
the bore-hole project is completed soon
2 (11:55am)
School/club: Sikabeng M/A JHS
Patron: Ahedor Edith
Topic: Lack of parental care which is leading to poor
performance of children and school dropout
Portfolio group 1: Identification of the problem
List of members:
-Appertey foster -leader,
-Nakotey monica,
-Narh Hayford and
-Salifu Tenni,
Teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, streetism and other social vices are
on the rise in the sikabeng community. According to their study,
between 2007-2012, 49 students dropped out of school due to
premature pregnancies
On several occasions male/female students were found in class
rooms at odd times; when the issue was raised in a meeting a parent
is quoted to have said ‘is part and passel of the students in the
community’. Project citizens have taken the issue up trying to find a
redress
Portfolio group 2: Alternative solutions
List of members
- Terku Diana-leader,
-Abadji Bright,
-Tamatey veronica and
-Djakwah Abednego,
Alternative policies to the problem
 Community awareness campaign
 Capitation grant
 FCUBE
Portfolio group 3: Club policy
List of members
- Addo Emmanuel -leader
-Alidu Adizata,
-Narh Hayford and
- Dikartey Nicholas,
The club chose Free Compulsory Universal Basic
Education (FCUBE) as their class policy and presented the
following
Advantages
 it help parent who do not have money to look
after their children,
 it will increase school enrolment and make the
students to learn very hard.
Disadvantages
 Increase in birth rate leading to fallen health of
mothers
 Pressure on the government facilities.
Victims of teenage pregnancy in Sikabeng community

9. Portfolio group 4: Action plan
List of members
- Maduku Machael-leader,
-Ahulungua Francis and
-Teye kofi Richard
The students said with the help of their patron and head
teacher there were able to meet the assemblyman, chief,
parents and religious leaders and the promise to do a serious
follow-up on the issue. They will also promote FCUBE at the
District and community levels.
3 (12:45pm)
School/club: Klo-Agogo Junior High
Patron: Abrantie Theophilus
Topic: Bad condition of public toilet near to the market
Portfolio group 1: identification of the problem
List of members
- Asudwe Enoch-leader,
-Lawer Naomi
- Tetteh Solomon and
-Adebor Gift
The student backed the problem with pictures. You could tell
how bad the condition of the toilet which is very close to the
market. They gave statistics of the number of people affected
by cholera for the past years. A video disc was attached
Portfolio group 2: Alternative solutions
List of members:
-Boadu Gilbert- leader,
-Awadzie Vida and
-Amankwah Gift.
Alternative solutions to the problem are:
renovating the toilet which will enticed the people to
go inside to defecate than doing it outside,
active involvement of sanitation workers
construction of a new toilet
Promotion of household latrines
Picture of bad public toilet showing
Portfolio group 3: Club policy
List of members
Dankwah Jonathan-leader
Attiah Charity and
kwame Esther
The community resolved that each household must have a
toilet.
Advantages
Prevention of open defecation, bylaw will be passed
and levies shall be collected from defaulters.
Disadvantage
Very costly for individual to construct.
Portfolio group 4: Action plan
List of members:
- Vida Lawer-leader,
- Larbi Charity and
-Tetteh Solomon
Club indicated that they had a meeting with stakeholders
including chief, Assemblyman, parents etc

10. they promise to work together to get the district assembly
CWSA to come to their aid.
Snack was served at 13:30pm
At about 1400pm, it was time to declare results and present
awards to the schools.
Klo-Agogo emerged top with 35.0 over 50 points followed by
Boti R/c with 33.9 and Sikabeng MA also scored 26.8 points
Each school was presented with 10 pieces of assorted text
books donated by EPP bookshop and a plastic container for
preserving water in their various schools donated by AFES
When asked whether the observing clubs has something to
share with public, they all responded no
Remarks from three guests:
Three head teachers of participating schools were giving the
opportunity to say a word. In all their submissions they
indicated that they were happy about the performance of the
children especially as this is the first time of such an event.
They also thanked AFES for the support it has always giving
to the schools. They hope to see a better performance in
2013 than this
At about 15:25pm, in the PTL’s closing remarks; he spoke
about the ‘Voices of Youth’ project which is being
implemented in collaboration with YES-Ghana, UNDP and
other partners. He said, the ‘Project citizen’ campaign is
directly connected with the ‘Voices of Youth’ since they both
deal with advocating for space for youth/community issues
into our socio-political agenda. He mentioned about the youth
manifesto-2012 and passed 2 copies round for the general
public to see
Field officers mobilizing support for the youth manifesto in koforidua
He noted that next year’s activities would be a
combination of ‘Voices of Youth’ and ‘Project Citizen’ best
practices
Closing prayer was said by Mr. Akumatey Edmund patron
for Nkurakan L/A JHS at about 15:50pm with about 400
people in attendance
THANKS FOR READING THIS REPORT:
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