Advocacy also useful to small associations

Small associations within the Private Sector throughout Ghana are likely to use advocacy to address the constraints they face, voice their concerns and negotiate solutions; at their local level. Advocacy is not reserved to nationwide issues, overarching problems, etc.

Advocacy is about dialoguing in a positive way to convince the decision makers. It may be used at all levels of society and the Private Sector.

The Tie & Die Batik Manufacturers Association (TDBMA) at Dzodze Lorlornyo with support from BUSAC started an advocacy action aimed at convincing the District Assembly to involve them in the fee-fixing process and other collaboration. They proposed to go for a very simple and transparent process (a short description is on BUSAC website www.busac.org “already funded actions”) to convince the Assembly about the value of their input as responsible private sector actors within the district.

Although fee-fixing clearly remains a prerogative of the District Assembly, that very simple action from TDMA is likely to convince the Assembly about the usefulness of input from the private sector in the AssemblyÕs final decisions with respect to fee-fixing.

A fruitful dialogue may develop then, for improved revenue mobilization and increased participation, for a better District economy.