Increase participation of citizens in governance (including planning, budgeting and implementation) (GHSMD0003)

Commitment ID

GHSMD0003

Commitment Title

Increase participation of citizens in governance (including planning, budgeting and implementation)

Problem

Over the years, government of Ghana has embarked on legislative and policy restructuring to ensure that citizens’ engagement is consciously strengthened at the MMDAs level. To this end, the new Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) dedicates a whole section to popular participation and an Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Local Government established. Subsequently, a manual and an action plan to guide its implementation was developed and all MMDAs were trained on how to use the manual to enhance civic participation. The government thereafter directed all MMDAs to set up client services units but the directives has not been effectively implemented. As a result, civic spaces are yet to be created to enhance the participation of citizens in the governance process and public services delivery.   The co-creation process revealed the following issues:

• Lack of Client Services Unit, hampering effective client services and customer satisfaction in public services delivery
• Inadequate flow of information to the public making it difficult to have access to the Assembly and hence low public knowledge about the operations and powers of the Assembly.
• Revenue leakages leading to inadequate revenue to fund development projects
• Unequal distribution of development projects due to lack of commitment to strictly implement prioritised needs of the citizens as obtained during the engagement/needs assessment.

Status quo

The current situation of lack of a vibrant client services unit and low commitment to popular participation, has resulted in the following problems, which require serious attention to address:

• Delay in implementation of projects and programmes (projects over delay and cost overrun)
• Only 10% of complaints are processed and acted on annually
• 56% of projects not implemented timely
• Funding disclosure, particularly funding received from various sources is as low as 35%

Public rating of knowledge of assembly’s duties is 57% as per recent consultation reports.

Action

The commitment is to increase the participation of citizens in planning, budgeting and implementation of development projects and decision making particularly in governance.

• Client Services Unit will be established to promote customer service and relationship in the Assembly
• Set up complaint units/provide suggestion Boxes in all Area Councils which are the sub-district structures of the District Assembly
• Create a Civic Space for CSOs engagement and participation in Governance
• Ensure access to information about the Assembly and this will be increased to about 80% through the use of Accountability Bill Boards, Geo spatial dashboards and citizens’ charters.
• 100% of complained received will be processed and follow up actions taken

There will be timely implementation of projects and increase public participation in monitoring and evaluation.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

When successfully implemented, the commitment will help achieve the following:

• Promotes fairly and uneven allocation of development resources or projects,
• Increased revenue generation
• Participatory planning, budgeting and project implementation will be achieved
• Reduced citizens’ apathy in decision making.
• Public confidence in the Assembly will be enhanced
• Promote customer service in the Assembly

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

The commitment is designed to achieve the following long- term goals

• Achievement of the goals of the National Popular Participation Framework
• Accelerate actions towards achieving the National Decentralisation Policy and Strategy (2020-2024)
• Contribute to achieving the National Public Sector Reform Strategy (2018 – 2023)
• Deepen political, financial and administrative decentralization
• Promote the fight against corruption and economic crimes
• Improve participation of civil society in national development
• Ensure responsive governance and citizen/CSOs participation in the development dialogue
• Contribute significantly to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Primary Policy Area

Civic Space, Social Accountability

Primary Sector

Cross-sectoral, Public Services (general)

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?