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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Community participation in local economic development in Ghana |
Author: | Amakye, Felix Agyei |
Year: | 2012 |
Periodical: | Journal of Local Government Studies (ISSN 2026-5840) |
Volume: | 4 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 25-57 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Ghana |
Subjects: | economic development decentralization community participation |
Abstract: | This paper locates local community participation in discussions of Local Economic Development (LED) in Ghana. The implementation of decentralization in Ghana has established roles for the market and other instutionalized agencies to stimulate the local economy and to create jobs in order to generate income and enhance the quality of life. Yet, what role do the beneficiaries of development play in improving their economic conditions? Community participation in LED entails the idea of community members identifying economic activities, analysing their viability to bring out their potential, determining appropriate improvement strategies and making them competitive in the market. A more inclusive and broad-based participation ensures efficient and effective utilization of local resources for sustainable development. The paper examines LED interventions that have ensured community participation to generate employment and sustain economic gains. The author's main argument is that though community participation brings some challenges, it can lead to sustainable LED. The real beneficiaries of the LED iniatives should not be left out of the planning, implementation and evaluation of these initiatives. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract] |