The Political Economy of the Creation of Districts in Ghana

Ayee, Joseph R. A.

doi:10.1177/0021909612464334

Cited by 58 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Issues relating to capacity in all forms and political interference in the discharge of their duties, relationships with other bodies and institutions have been of concern. Some have argued that the creation of decentralised institutions have had minimum impact on poverty reduction (Ayee, 2012;Osei Kwadwo & Buadi Mensah, 2016). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ghana’s Path to an Industrial–Led Growth: The Role of Decentralisation Policies

Fenny¹

2017

IJEF

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Ghana"s industrial sector has evolved with the various stages of political and economic reforms since independence in 1957. Efforts to decentralize its key institutions to enhance economic growth has seen very little success especially in the area of linking industries to local institutions. Recently, the economy has been dampened by worsening macroeconomic environment, huge regional disparities and power crises. A number of policy and programme initiatives by the government have been undertaken especially in the area of revamping the local economies through the existing decentralized systems. This paper presents a critical review of the role of decentralized institutions in industrialisation in Ghana. The paper utilises annual data from the Ministry of Finance and Ghana Statistical Service from 1981 to date to show trends in growth patterns in the selected indicators.Despite key interventions, some regions in Ghana have failed to develop. The envisioned industrial geographical dispersion has not been realised as we find many Ghanaian industries concentrated in a few regions. The paper highlights the challenges facing Ghana"s decentralized institutions and identifies the opportunities that can catalyse the growth of Ghana"s industrial sector if key policy strategic reforms are undertaken. An industrial-led growth will ensure that the manufacturing sub-sector will be boosted to improve production and provide jobs. Industrialisation has been projected at the forefront of government"s development agenda. The paper provides a review that highlights the need to support decentralised institutions to enable them stimulate investment in industrial sector.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ghana’s Path to an Industrial–Led Growth: The Role of Decentralisation Policies

Fenny¹

2017

IJEF

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“…Prior to the establishment of the county-payam-boma system, districts formed the basic local government structure; this meant that the borders between the Bari and the Mundari (both in Juba District) or between the Kakwa and Pojulu (both in Yei District) were not of any political relevance. As Smith (1979) and Ayee (2013) argue, the establishment of local governments is vital to the processes of state-building, yet it remains a complicated process, particularly in relation to the creation of borders. With the current trend to place greater emphasis on ethnicity in the establishment of local government, local administrative units in South Sudan have become a source of contestation at the lower levels of society.…”

Section: Identity As a Political Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Governing Unclear Lines: Local Boundaries as a (Re)source of Conflict in South Sudan

Justin

Vries

2017

Journal of Borderlands Studies

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South Sudan's administrative boundaries stem from the colonial period. Since it gained independence in 2011, subsequent rounds of reshuffling of the political system, internal borders, and power relations have been a source of confusion, elite manipulation, and conflict throughout the country. This paper explores the impact of this confusion by focusing on multiple shifting linkages between administrative boundaries and identities and shows how the mobilization of ethnic identities has become central to territorial claims and creating territorial borders. We use three local conflicts in Central Equatoria State to illustrate how claims of belonging and entitlement are being used by elites for economic, political, and socio-cultural gains. The three cases also show how such manipulation increases the likelihood of ethnic division and conflict. Following the decision by the government in 2015 to increase the number of states from 10 to 28 in October 2015, further manipulation of borders and identities is likely to occur and could result in more violence, ethnic-based conflict, and human suffering.

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“…Second, regionalization and districting, which have been a characteristic of Ghana since independence (Ayee 2012) are associated with the growth of certain urban localities in all intercensal periods, but over the years, fewer africaTODAY 60(1) Figure 1. Towns that grew rapidly, declined, or stagnated between 2000 and 2010. and fewer regional and district capitals grew due to their political status.…”

Section: Rapidly Growing Urban Localitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%