DECENTRALIZATION IN A PLURALIST STATE: ETHNIC IDENTITY, RESOURCE CONFLICTS AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST GONJA DISTRICT OF GHANA

Abstract

Decentralization has often been viewed as a panacea in the democratic articula- tion of multiple interests in a pluralist state. Others argue otherwise. The manipu- lative tendencies of the state often lead to inappropriate institutional frameworks that undermine the very democratic principles that decentralization seeks to pro- vide. Using a concrete case of the multi-ethnic East Gonja District of Ghana, the author argues that decentralization does not always provide a framework for the articulation of sectional interests. He then goes on to illustrate how the lack of sensitivity to the issue of multi-ethnicity in crafting the institutional framework for decentralized development has generated unending ethnic conflicts since colonial times to the present. Among the damaging effects of the ethnic conflicts are the recurrent loss of life and property, displacement of the local population, disrup- tion of livelihoods and above all the thwarting of the consensus building proc- esses at both the district and community levels, thereby stalling the implementa- tion of the decentralization process. He concludes that a conscious redefinition of the roles and authority boundaries of the traditional institutions to realign them with the current national decentralized district development framework is critical for the democratic participation of all ethnic and interests groups in this ethni- cally diverse and conflict ridden district.