The Rhetoric and Reality of Development Planning for Rural Development in Ghana: The Case of East Gonja District in Northern Ghana

Abstract

This study examines the preparation and implementation of the District Medium Term Development Plans in four sub-district structures in the East Gonja District to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the planning process as established by laws and regulations. Using qualitative approaches of focus group discussions, interviews and documentary analysis the study reveals that the process of development planning was not participatory and was short-circuited. This therefore renders the District Medium Term Development Plans ineffective and less responsive to the needs of the people and/or the communities in the district. Also, the sub-district structures, though operational, were ineffective as a result of low revenue generated from the low-economic activities in the district coupled with the delay of the release of and the inadequacy of the District Assemblies Common Funds (DACF). No doubt, the challenge of resource constraint for effective planning is evident. There is therefore the need for a deliberate policy strategy towards establishing an insulated fund to support development planning at the district level.

Unpacking decentralization failures in promoting popular participation in the Ketu South Municipality of Ghana

“…In the said study, Be-ere [ 5 ] revealed that there was little or no involvement, consultation or participation of the local populace in the preparation of the medium-term development plan of the studied districts. Additionally, this finding is supported by Abdul-Rahaman et al [ 70 ], who stated that there is a non-existent of citizens’ consultation and involvement in development planning of many districts in Ghana.…”

“…Citizens' participation in budgeting and planning are considered a public decision-making tool permitting local citizenry in negotiating resource allocation and utilization [ 69 ]. Additionally, the promotion of citizens’ participation in budgeting and planning lessens public contestations of government fiscal policies [ 70 ]. Bobbio [ 61 ] recommends an all-inclusive representation through a self-selection approach to budget/financial planning at the local level.…”

“…This finding is line with Kuyini [ 30 ] who observed the incidence of low voter turnout in district-level elections as compared to national elections. Additionally, Yeboah-Assiamah [ 35 ] and Abdul-Rahaman et al [ 70 ] posit that, in Ghana, low citizens' participation in local elections is attributable to the absence of accountability by the political heads of the various local government authorities to the local populace but to the central government. The continued appointment of MMDCs by successive governments instead of their periodic election by the local populace is the major contributor to low citizens’ participation in periodic local-level elections.…”

Achieving Healthy City Development in Ghana: Referencing Sustainable Development Goal 11

“…Hackman et al [39] also added that the effects of weak institutional capacity identified as one of the peculiar problems inhibiting the effective implementation of developmental and sustainable projects at the MMDA level. Due to some of these challenges, Abdul-Rahaman and Adusah-Karikari [40] revealed that out of 36 planned projects within the East Gonja district in the Northern region of Ghana, only 8 representing 19.05% of the total projects for the 2010-2013 District Assembly Medium Term Development Plan (DMTDP) were implemented. To address these challenges, stakeholders and researchers in local governance have advocated for reforms that ensure the sustainability of the socioeconomic well-being of the people [41].…”

Personal, Public and Political Impacts of a New District: Survey Data from Before and After the Creation of Ghana’s Nabdam District

“…In Ghana’s district assembly system where the chief executive officer and 30% of assembly members are appointed by the president, this political patronage argument is rather unavoidable (e.g. Abdul-Rahaman and Adusah-Karikari, 2019; Ayee, 2013; Mohammed, 2016; Yeboah-Assiamah, 2016). Ghanaian scholars and activists have consistently argued in favour of more democratization at the local level as a corrective to this institutionally encouraged clientelism (e.g.…”