ABSTRACT
Community development projects requires the use of participatory approaches in the formulation of plans to reflect the needs and aspiration of the people. Participatory development perceives local people as experts within their own circumstances, thus highlighting the need to draw on their strengths and indigenous capabilities. Active participation ensures that the beneficiaries of the development project are empowered to become actively involved in all stages of a project cycle. The nine-month long (October 2018 to July 2019) study, took place in Abokobi in the Ga east municipality and examined the pattern of community participation in development project in the Abokobi municipality. Using a qualitative research approach, the study investigated the roles handed to different category of community members through in-depth interviews conducted amongst twenty-two (22) respondents in other to analyze the comprehensiveness of community participation within the study location. The study also examines some factors that hinder or enhance the involvement of community members or beneficiaries in the development process of the Municipality. The study found that there was active engagement of people at the initial stages of project execution by the Assembly. However active engagement of community members reduced as the project progressed to the implementation stage. The study also found that grassroot mobilization and the formation of community organizations were key social factors that enhanced the participation of people in the development process because the Assembly found it convenient engaging community organized groups. The study also found that the assembly uses incentivization and community sensitization as a strategy to raise awareness and encourage community members to attend meetings. The study therefore concludes that the Assembly continuously uses this strategy because the community members themselves condones it and sees it as a pre-requisite for their involvement in town hall meetings.
The study also concludes, that the low pace at which the Assembly attends to the developmental needs of the people was a disincentive for community participation. The study recommends that the assembly establishes an effective channel of information transfer between the community and the assembly to enhance share of knowledge and information towards successful community project planning. The study also recommends the deepening of education and sensitization programs to educate the people on the need for their participation and the influence they wield over their own projects.
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The focus of development has progressed beyond physical infrastructure to improving the quality of human livelihoods in terms of life expectancy, education, per capita income of individuals, access to basic needs etc. (Chukwuma, 2018). Effort by governments or development partners to improve the livelihoods of people, thereby satisfying the motive of development is largely done through projects, programs and in most cases policies. These projects or initiatives should reflect the views and aspirations of the beneficiaries for whom they are implemented (Cohen, 1980). The study thus, seek to assess the extent to which the community participate in the execution of projects and initiatives that ultimately improve their wellbeing.
Participation can basically be seen as the engagement of individuals and groups in initiatives that aim to find solutions to address problems that impede their wellbeing (Harvey, 2002). Harvey, (2002) again posits that, people cannot be forced to participate in projects or initiatives but should be given the opportunity if need be. Participation is therefore seen as a right which should be freely exercised by individuals and communities.
A community project could be any initiative undertaken for the purposes of supporting livelihoods of the community (May-Hanley, 2012). This encapsulates a broader range of different forms of interventions within a community. The involvement of those affected by the community project in its activities is considered as very imperative due to its tendency to build a huge sense of proprietorship and commitment among the community members towards the projects.
The ambitions for community participation will depend on what role the community is expected to play in the project (Quick, 2008). Genuine participation requires participants to play active roles that influences developmental plans to achieve effectiveness and the best possible outcome rather than passive engagement of people merely to legitimize and give credence to the process.
After more than forty years of providing development aid to developing countries, most donor agencies started to raise concerns about the sustainability of developmental initiatives and benefits achieved after the withdrawal of foreign assistance (Miller et al, 2017). This then called for the need to strengthen participation as it is seen as a necessary tool to properly identify community needs and generate objectives that will lead to the implementation of acceptable initiatives which will be appropriately utilized and owned by the community thereby guaranteeing the success of the initiative. Community members must feel the need to own the project, it is only out of ownership of developmental initiatives that they will be compelled to protect and ensure the safety and utilization of the project (Takyi, 2014). If a project is not understood, adopted or appreciated by the beneficiaries the effectiveness and adequate utilization of the project can be challenged (Hoverman et al, 2011).
In Ghana some efforts have been made towards advancing community participation in the development process over the years. Ghana started the enactment of a comprehensive policy initiative to decentralize the system of governance through the Local Government Act. Decentralization is essential as it ensures equitable distribution of resources and the advancement of local involvement in the developmental process (Crook & Manor, 2000). Ghana, and like most African countries moved away from the global top-down approach to development to a bottom-up approach that gives local authorities the opportunity and powers to take complete control of the
developmental process of their localities. The local government system of Ghana is streamlined to engender public participation and involve beneficiaries of development project throughout the necessary stages of project planning and implementation. Community participation is an essential component of decentralization. By the advent of decentralization and the use of better participatory practices, it is expected that Government and local authorities will understand community needs and aspirations so as to carve development plans that reflects the ordeals of communities. Strengthening the participatory process through decentralization will mean that community members will also have better opportunities to play relevant roles in the governance and development process. The study will then seek to appreciate how well community participation embedded in our decentralization process has been embarked on in the Local Assembly’s quest to coordinate development within the Ga East municipality.
A Review of a Detailed Planning Process Towards the Adoption of Medium-Term Development Plan in the Study Area (Ga East Municipality)
In consonance with the national development agenda, a Municipal Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) was prepared to ensure the efficient and effective development of the Municipality. As indicated by the Planning Officer, The Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit (MPCU) of the Ga East Municipal Assembly took into consideration the needs and aspirations of the people in designing the Municipal Medium-Term Development Plan for the period (2018-2021). The Municipal Assembly, by the adoption of the MTDP, addresses the concerns of the poor in society. The preparation of the MTDP was based on the guidelines provided by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).
In preparing the 2018-2021 plan, a number of meetings with the Decentralized Heads of Department of the Ga East Municipal Assembly was held regarding the profile of the Municipality and a review of the targets set for the previous MTDP and achievement levels. This forms part of the performance review of the previous plan (2014-2017) MTDP, including review of the Municipal Profile. The meetings introduced officers to the concepts of the plan preparation, project implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation. At the end of each meeting, materials and handouts to guide the preparation of the plans were provided. All the meetings were facilitated by the Planning Unit of the Assembly.
The bottom-up approach in participatory planning process is said to have been used to ensure the involvement of the people from various walks of life within the municipality. This was to enable relevant contributions from people and ultimately guarantee their ownership the Medium-Term Plan (2018-2021). Fora were organized in all the two Zonal Councils. During these sessions, the community members were assisted to identify key problems and prioritized them. Major strategic stakeholders like Traditional Authorities, Civil Society Organization (CSOs), Farm/Farmers Base Organizations (FBOs), cooperative groups, Transport Unions, Sector Departments and other strategic partners including persons with disabilities, etc. Participated in this all-important exercise. To deepen the participatory process further, public hearings were held at the Zonal Councils in the Municipality after which prioritized needs were derived.
The Planning Team also had interactions with relevant Heads of Departments and some key development partners such as Accra Brewery Company, Phytobacteria Pharmaceutical Ltd and Ghana Atomic Energy all located within the Municipality. Similar ones were held with agencies namely; Ghana Water Company Limited, Electricity Company of Ghana, Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Commercial Banks and the Wisconsin University. This was to enable the
team know their plans for the Municipality within the planning period in order that effective projections would be made.
Problem Statement
Community participation has dominated the discourse in terms of development project sustainability. Research all over the world has shown how community participation or user involvement affects development project success or failure (Reeves, 2015). Community participation does not only ensure project sustainability, but also provide a bases for the execution of development initiatives that reflects the needs of the wider community. Participation also provides a wider and general response that calls for the empowerment and self-reliance of communities (Gaventa, 2006).
