Spatial variations in the fiscal capacity of local government in Ghana, before and after decentralisation

Razin, Eran; Obirih-Opareh, N.

doi:10.3828/twpr.22.4.k4l071413wn86715

Cited by 6 publications

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“…In a detailed study titled 'Spatial Variations in the Fiscal Capacity of Local Government in Ghana, before and after Decentralisation', Razin and Obirih-Yeboah conclude that local governments in the capital city region (Accra-Tema) and in the second largest metropolitan area (Kumasi) as well as those in the other large urban centres, were the most financially sound compared to those in remote regions and predominant rural areas [40]. Even financial allocations from central government, such as the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) were found to favour the large urban centres.…”

Section: Decentralisation and Local Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of district capitals in regional development: Linking small towns, rural–urban linkages and decentralisation in Ghana

Owusu

2005

International Development Planning Review

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There has been a renewed interest in the role of small towns in rural and regional development driven by recent socio-economic and political changes at the national and international levels involving democratisation and local government reforms, structural adjustment and economic reforms, and a general trend favouring participation or 'development from below'. As urban centres closest to rural communities, small towns are perceived as: important and efficient nodal points for linking or connecting rural producers to national and international markets; centres for locating social services within relatively easy reach of rural communities, and centres for the transmission of government policies and modernisation. Within this perspective has also emerged the increasing recognition that rural and urban areas do not exist as 'islands' but are linked by flows of people, goods, services, and information (spatial linkages) and sectoral interactions (employment and occupations, such as rural non-farm employment and urban agriculture). These spatial linkages and sectoral interactions between rural and urban areas are also increasingly recognised as critical survival and accumulation strategies for the poor and the rich respectively in both rural and urban households.While many studies have emphasised the promotion of small towns, they also note that the ability of small towns to play any meaningful role in regional development and ruralurban interactions depends on functional local government systems with adequate resources and authority. This requires decentralised development approaches that are driven by local needs and priorities with the active participation of all stakeholders. For the past decade and half, Ghana has implemented a decentralisation programme that has required the transfer of financial and infrastructural resources, as well as power and authority to the district level. District capitals, defined in this study as small towns, have become important focal points as stimuli to district development under the programme. It is envisaged that rural-urban linkages between a district capital and its hinterland (district) will have positive impacts on both spatial units, and consequently the overall development of the district.While various studies have been done on small towns and rural-urban interactions in developing countries not much has been done on small towns within a decentralised political, administrative and economic context. Besides, in the context of Ghana, although in the implementation of decentralisation policies district capitals have been recognised as iii important, not enough theoretical work has been done on their role in rural and regional development and to place this within the various models and theories on urban centres within the fields of urban studies and regional development. As a result, adequate evaluation of district capitals and their role in the decentralised development process as a basis to unearth contradictions, inefficiencies and weaknesses of the strategy is yet t...

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Section: Decentralisation and Local Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of district capitals in regional development: Linking small towns, rural–urban linkages and decentralisation in Ghana

Owusu

2005

International Development Planning Review

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“…It would therefore seem that having a large population confers certain advantages on the city. In this respect, Razin & Obirih-Opareh (2000) note that large cities are usually the most fiscally sound, while small districts or municipalities lack economies of scale and are financially weak. Such uneven access to local public resources due to differences in size or urbanization gives rise to the problem of horizontal imbalance (UNCHS, 1996), which in part contributes to widening disparities between municipalities.…”

Section: Explaining Intercity Variations In the Provision Of Urban Inmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The rationale for including of such variables is that local governments are seen as agents of change, and given adequate financial resources they can influence the pattern of spatial development (Razin & Obirih-Opareh, 2000). Five variables cover the financial capacity of municipal governments.…”

Section: Framework For Explaining Intercity Variations In the Provisimentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring and explaining the provision of infrastructure in African cities

Arimah

2003

International Planning Studies

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There are few studies that investigate the provision of infrastructure in Africa from a cross-city perspective. This can be attributed to the dearth of reliable data. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) through its Global Urban Indicators Programme recently completed the collection of an extensive set of urban indicators for 237 cities worldwide. Drawing on the African component of this database, this paper measures and accounts for intercity variations in the provision of infrastructure. The empirical analysis reveals that the provision of infrastructure in African cities can be measured in terms of a single dimension of basic infrastructure, which comprises water, electricity, sewerage, sanitation and telecommunication services. Further analysis shows that the most important variables explaining intercity differences in the dimension of basic infrastructure are: income as measured by GDP per capita;external debt burden of the country in which the city is located; city size; public sector expenditure on infrastructure; local government's capital expenditure; and the proportion of the local authority's revenue derived from user charges.

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“…In addition, a genuine decentralization of revenue and financial resources commensurate with delegated responsibilities and functions is needed, as are more transparent and accountable local decentralized institutions. These required conditions are currently, however, rarely the case in Ghana (see Naustdalslid, 1992; Mohan, 1996; Ayee, 1995; Razin and Obirih‐Opareh, 2000; Thomi et al. , 2000).…”

Section: Theoretical Perspectives: Small Towns and Their Role In Regimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, many analysts have identified inadequate finance as the key major challenge, and the main reason why many district assemblies have not made a significant impact on the development of their districts (Ayee, 1995; 2000; Mohan, 1996; Crook and Manor, 1998; Eriksen et al. , 1999; Razin and Obirih‐Opareh, 2000; Yankson, 2000). According to Ayee (2000), Ghana's decentralization illustrates the situation in many countries, where the programme promises so much but delivers very little in practical terms.…”

Section: Theoretical Perspectives: Small Towns and Their Role In Regimentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Small Towns in Regional Development and Poverty Reduction in Ghana

Owusu

2008

Int J Urban Regional Res

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Ghana, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, lacks a clearly articulated urban development strategy. Urban growth has been rapid but largely uncontrolled. Ghana's adoption of a decentralization programme in 1988 focused some attention on small towns. The country's more recent adoption of the Millennium Development Goals and other specific poverty reduction strategies requires more concerted state promotion of small towns. Improved service provision and delivery through small towns is a necessary component of any successful poverty reduction or regional development strategy. Copyright (c) 2008 The Author. Journal Compilation (c) 2008 Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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Spatial variations in the fiscal capacity of local government in Ghana, before and after decentralisation

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

The role of district capitals in regional development: Linking small towns, rural–urban linkages and decentralisation in Ghana

The role of district capitals in regional development: Linking small towns, rural–urban linkages and decentralisation in Ghana

Measuring and explaining the provision of infrastructure in African cities

The Role of Small Towns in Regional Development and Poverty Reduction in Ghana

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