To enhance transparency and accountability in local governance, the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) for the North West region has initiated a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of mayors and councils.To achieve this, the PIC recently concluded a training session for 105 community-based assistants drawn from all 34 council areas within the region. These individuals will serve as the eyes and ears of the PIC, engaging with the public to gather data on council activities and performance.According to Tamfu Simon Fai, the PIC for the North West, the primary objective is to assess the impact of mayors and councils on the lives of citizens. By conducting surveys and monitoring council activities, the community-based assistants will provide crucial information to inform a comprehensive report card on each council.'We have observed a significant gap in citizen participation in local governance,' Tamfu stated. 'This initiative aims to bridge that gap by empowering communities to engage in the evalua tion of their leaders actively.'The final report, which will include both positive and negative assessments, will be made public and submitted to the President of the Republic. It is anticipated that this exercise will foster greater accountability among elected officials and improve service delivery to the population.Source : Cameroon News Agency