Local capacity for decentralized development governance: a study of community-based Organisations in the Ejura-Sekyedumasi District

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1997-06-08
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Abstract
The failure of past development paradigms for African transformation has been due mainly to the fact that they were more “object centred” rather than “people centred” and therefore never considered the role of the people in the development planning process. Ghana’s attempt at making development more human centered finds expression in the decentralization programme in which district assemblies have been established to serve as agents of local development and where the grassroots people are represented, and local development units given a major role in local development issues. The case of local development organisations in the Ejura-Sekyedumasi District has been taken to assess their capacities in the governance process of local development. Field data was collected through the use of interview schedules and guides from CBOs as well as from departments working with these CBOs in the district. Field data has shown that in spite of a few and isolated cases of demonstrated capacity in terms of development initiatives and management among CBOs, there is a general lack of capacity for development governance in the district. Weaknesses in capacity among CBOs except for the WATSANs have been in fields of finance, management and technical skills. These weaknesses and the near lack of an all-level institutional linkage, coupled with ethnic divisions and negative traditional beliefs further hamper capacity for governance. A three-prong system of linkages at the district, zonal and community levels is suggested to foster a permanent, mutual and frequent interaction amongst all development governance actors.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Development Planning and Management, 1997
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