Local Government and Community Participation; Prospect of the Unit Committee Model in Ghana´s Decentralization Program

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue IV, April 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Local Government and Community Participation; Prospect of the Unit Committee Model in Ghana´s Decentralization Program

Paul Kwaku Larbi Anderson
Center for Planning and Evaluation of Social Services (ZPE, University of Siegen, Germany

Abstract: The unit committee model representing the basic structure of Ghana’s decentralization and local government program plays a crucial role in grassroots mobilization and community participation in the decision-making and implementation process. This paper reviews the prospects of the unit committee models as a unique feature of Ghana´s decentralization and local government policy for promoting participation at the local level. Data for the study was obtained through semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation, focused group discussions, documents, and material culture analysis. The study was conducted within the Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Suhum Municipalities in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study revealed that local expectation from the unit committee members is inconsistent with their formal role as the basic structure of the decentralization and local government policy in Ghana. Unrealistic public expectations coupled with inadequate financial resources have resulted in total disregard for the functioning of the unit committee system. This makes the unit committee model seems to exist only by name since its impact is not so much felt at the local level making the position of the members who are elected and partly appointed a mere formality. This study recommends effective public education and institutional mechanisms to enhance the functioning of the unit committee model for members to effectively commit to their role to achieve the purpose for which the system was instituted.

Keywords: Decentralization, Participation, community, Local government, unit committee.

I. INTRODUCTION

Decentralization and local government policy, in general, has the basic objective of devolving power, resources, and responsibility from the central government to the district level of administration[1]–[3]. The policy is strategic in promoting participatory democracy by establishing structures and procedures that aim at bringing governance to the doorstep of the people. Several studies [4]–[6] maintain that citizens’ participation in decision-making and implementation is vital to inclusive and sustainable development. Thus, the active involvement of the people in the decision-making and implementation process is key to the development of the local governance system.
The 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana, Article 25 makes provision for the creation of local government systems to ensure the devolution of central government powers and function to the local level of administration. Subsequently, the local government act of 1993 (ACT 462) instituted the unit

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