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 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
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| Title: | Decentralisation and Capacity Building in Ghana |
| Author: | Asibuo, S.K. |
| Year: | 1999 |
| Periodical: | Africa Insight |
| Volume: | 29 |
| Issue: | 3-4 |
| Pages: | 8-15 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Ghana |
| Subjects: | decentralization Politics and Government Development and Technology Economics and Trade |
| Abstract: | Decentralization of the machinery of government has become a recurring theme in political and administrative discourse. An important argument is that it facilitates popular participation in both planning and the implementation of development activities. This article reviews Ghana's efforts in the period 1988 to 1996 to build capacity to facilitate the decentralization of government. In November 1988, the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government promulgated the Local Government Law to establish 110 district and metropolitan assemblies. However, a critical lack of funds eroded the confidence of the public in the district councils' ability to promote development. In 1993 a new local government structure was proposed, made up of four-tier metropolitan and three-tier municipal/district assemblies. Capacitybuilding initiatives to support decentralization in the period 1988-1996 were taken in the areas of financial capacity, logistics and managerial capacity. A number of foreign NGOs supported decentralization training programmes. The conclusion is that the capacitybuilding measures of Ghana's governments in the period 1988-1996 were not far-reaching enough, but that they do demonstrate a greater commitment and determination to promote effective decentralization than that of any previous Ghanaian government. Ref. |
