Junior Researcher

S. Nana Ato Arthur
 
 
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Decentralisation and Political Accountability of Local Government in Ghana - A case Study of KEEA Municipality

Decentralisation has assumed an unparalled popularity all over the world within the last two decades. As such governments around the world are reforming and strengthening local government systems (Dillinger, 1994; Manor, 1999). It is argued that over 80 per cent of all developing and transition countries have undertaken some form of decentralisation over the past two decades. Also development partners and donors have used the decentralisation policy reform as a conditionality for development aid. The WB (1997), UNDP (1997) and OECD (1997) for instance, have all identified decentralisation as a key element for good governance. The argument is that people participate more effectively if institutions and decision making processes are located closer to where they live; and therefore has the potential of local decision-makers being accountable to citizens, voters and tax payers. However, Campos and Hellman (2005) posit that the decentralisation impact on governance outcomes is still largely unknown. In the context of Ghana, Debrah (2009) convincingly argues that accountable grassroots representative institutions have been disturbing although Ghana adopted decentralisation policy reforms nearly two-and-half decades ago; particularly since 1993 when Ghana adopted the Fourth Republican Constitution.

Against this background this research assesses the political accountability of local government in Ghana with empirical evidence from the KEEA Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Specifically, it:
1. Assesses local actors understanding of political accountability within the democratic decentralisation in Ghana;
2. Examines the processes involved in the local electoral system in Ghana;
3. Assesses public access to information from the KEEA Municipality; and
4. Examines the processes and proceedures of the local representatives' consultative meetings with the local citizens, voters and tax payers.

It is hoped that the findings of this research will contribute immensely to the academic debate of decentralisation and its governance outcomes with regards to political accountability particularly in Ghana.
Department ZEF A: Department of Political and Cultural Change
Research areas - Economics and Governance
Research countries - Ghana
Research topic Decentralisation and Political Accountability of Local Government in Ghana - A case study of KEEA Municipality
Degrees M.Sc.(Development Planning and Management), KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana;
PG Dip.(Regional Planning and Management), Universitat Dortmund, Germany;
B.Sc.(Eng), South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
Professional experience May 2006-Jan 2009 Regional Minister, Central Regional Coordinating Council, Cape Coast
• Appointed by the President of Ghana, I was the representative of the President in the region. Responsible for monitoring, evaluation, and coordination of the performance of all the 17 Metro/Municipal/District Assemblies (MMDAs) and the decentralized departments in the region;


May 2005-May 2006 Deputy Regional Minister, Central Regional Coordinating Council, Cape Coast
• Appointed by the President, I assisted the Regional Minister in the execution of government projects/programmes in the region. Assigned in charge of all the 17 Metro/Municipal/District Assemblies in the region;


March 2001-May 2005 District Chief Executive (Mayor), Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) District Assembly, Elmina
• As the representative of the President at the District Assembly designated by law as the highest political body, I was responsible for the overall development of the KEEA District. Under my leadership and guidance, I ensured the preparation of the Elmina 2015 Strategy which became the development blueprint of the district assembly;


December 1998-March 2001 Management Consultant, State Enterprises Commission, Accra
• As the consulting agency of Government, my responsibilities included contract negotiations, performance monitoring and evaluation of 11 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in Ghana;


March 1991-December 1998 Engineer, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), Accra
• As an engineer with the public service, my responsibilities included planning, design, construction and supervision of irrigation projects in Ghana.
Financially supported by Katholischer Akademischer Auslander-Dienst (KAAD)
 
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