DECENTRALISATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROVISION IN THE CENTRAL GONJA DISTRICT OF THE SAVANNAH REGI

Abstract

Decentralisation has been proposed as a way of improving social services provision globally. However, its viability is yet to be fully evidenced in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study seeks to investigate the contribution of decentralisation to social services provision in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region. To achieve this, the study adopted the qualitative and quantitative approaches to research. Data was collected using in-depth interviews, observations and Questionnaire administration. Participants for the study included community members, heads of the District Assembly and some decentralsed departments, Chiefs, NGOs etc were contacted and interviewed. The results of the study show that: though effected positively through the provision of social services on the lives of the people in the various communities, there were some shortfalls in social services provision; the results also show that, the provision of social services by the District Assembly was done in collaboration with NGOs, community members and private individuals; finally the unwillingness of some community members to participate in community self-development projects, disagreements among communities in selecting locations for projects, the politicisation of community projects were some of the challenges identified. On the basis of these findings, the study recommends that, the DA should improve on the short fall of social services provision in the Central Gonja District by strengthening collaboration between community members, relevant government agencies and NGOs.