REALITY OR MIRAGE? AN EXAMINATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DECENTRALIZED DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN NADOWLI KALEO DISTRICT

Abstract

Both local and international development partners, development agencies and developing nations have all and are still advocating for decentralization as an important mechanism for widening citizen participation in decision making thereby enhancing the provision of socio-economic infrastructure. Decentralization has one of its major objectives as establishing efficient political, planning and administrative institutions at the district level, which would enhance citizen’s participation and garner support and resources for district development. After more than two decades into the implementation of the decentralized planning system, the involvement of the local people in the planning process leaves much to be desired. It is against this backdrop that the study was conducted in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region to ascertain how the decentralized planning concept has been implemented. The study employed the mixed methodology specifically explanatory sequential mixed method. Both structured and semi- structured interviews were conducted to collect required data for analysis. Generally the study revealed that community participation in decision making is very low owing to the fact that needs assessment is hardly done across communities, and public hearings usually seclude the masses and minority groups. Also, the study further pointed out that most of the sub-structures are none functional. This was attributed to lack of logistics and staff to run these structures. Limited awareness level of citizens with regards to their roles in the decentralized planning system due to the inefficiency of some local government officials was also identified as one of the challenges facing the implementation. Based on these findings, the study recommended that strict adherence by the D.A to the procedural spaces for community participation as provided for by Act 480 must be encouraged