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The Politics of Decentralization in Ghana’s Fourth Republic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2014

Emmanuel Debrah
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Abstract:

This article assesses how the District Assemblies in Ghana’s Fourth Republic have exercised political, administrative, and fiscal powers transferred to them by the central government. It notes that the creation of the assemblies has promoted popular participation and boosted the autonomy of front-line officials in terms of decision-making and the allocation of financial resources at the local level. However, the central government retains the authority to appoint the District Chief Executive and 30 percent of the assembly members. Local governments experience delays in the transfer of funds, an inability to absorb civil servants of decentralized departments into the local culture, and a lack of capacity to raise revenue for development. The article argues that local election of the District Chief Executive and increased allocation of funds to the rural districts would attract entrepreneurs and skilled civil servants who would be able to implement effective decentralization.

Résumé:

Cet article examine comment les assemblées de district dans la Quatrième République du Ghana ont exercé des pouvoirs politiques, administratifs et fiscaux qui leur ont été transférés par le gouvernement central. Il note que la création des assemblées a favorisé la participation populaire et stimulé l’autonomie des fonctionnaires de première ligne en termes de prise de décision et d’allocation des ressources financières au niveau local. Cependant, le gouvernement central conserve le pouvoir de nommer le chef de district et trente pour cent des membres de l’assemblée. Les gouvernements locaux sont victimes de retards dans le transfert des fonds, d’une incapacité à intégrer les fonctionnaires nommés dans la culture locale, et d’un manque de capacité à générer des recettes pour le développement. L’article soutient que les élections locales du chef de district et l’augmentation des fonds alloués aux districts ruraux attireraient des entrepreneurs et des fonctionnaires qualifiés qui seraient en mesure de mettre en œuvre une décentralisation efficace.

Keywords

Decentralizationfinancial resourcesadministrative responsibilityGhana
Type
ARTICLES
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 57 , Issue 1 , April 2014 , pp. 49 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2014 

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