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Ghana

Citizen Participation (GH0007)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Ghana Action Plan 2013-2014

Action Plan Cycle: 2013

Status: Inactive

Institutions

Lead Institution: Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, National Development Planning Commission, District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator.

Support Institution(s): National Association of Local Government, Institute of Local Government Studies, the SEND Foundation.

Policy Areas

Capacity Building, Public Participation, Subnational

IRM Review

IRM Report: Ghana 2013-2014 End of Term Report

Starred: No

Early Results: Marginal

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information Civic Participation , Public Accountability

Potential Impact:

Implementation i

Completion:

Description

To bring government closer to the people and the people closer to their government, Ghana’s 1992 Fourth Republic Constitution provides for an elaborate system of decentralized government comprising three major structures, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA). MMDAs advance the central government strategic goal of promoting local, economic and social development and democracy. Political parties are constitutionally barred from participation in elections to the decentralized local government bodies – MMDAs.
However, 70 percent of assembly members are elected and 30 percent appointed by the Central Government with advice from local stakeholders, especially Chiefs and other traditional rulers, with consideration for equitable gender representation. Each MMDA has another lower level elective structure, the Unit committee, area and town councils which are deeply embedded in local communities.
In addition to these representative structures, Government commits to deepening participatory democracy by encouraging MMDAs to promote extensive participation of local Civil Society Organizations in their budgetary processes and development planning. The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) shall, accordingly, require of MMDAs evidence of popular participation in these processes before acceptance and approval.
Government further commits to support Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to organize annual meet-the-people fora to create opportunities for CSOs, other stakeholders and the public at large to participate in the evaluation of activities undertaken by the Assemblies in the preceding year. Actions:
• Organize two meetings between CSOs engaged in local government activities and Ministry of Local Government, MOFEP, NDPC, National Association of Local
Governments (NALAG) and District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator, to synthesize guidelines for deepening CSO participation in local government planning and budgetary processes
• Submit guidelines for wider discussion and adoption by representatives of MMDAs and CSOs.
• Set 2014 as starting point for implementation of guidelines

Ghana's Commitments

  1. Open Contracting and Contract Monitoring

    GH0020, 2017, Infrastructure & Transport

  2. Anti-Corruption Transparency

    GH0021, 2017, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  3. Beneficial Ownership

    GH0022, 2017, Beneficial Ownership

  4. Fiscal Transparency and Accountability

    GH0023, 2017, Fiscal Transparency

  5. Extractives Sector Transparency

    GH0024, 2017, Extractive Industries

  6. Right to Information

    GH0025, 2017, Legislation & Regulation

  7. Civic Participation and Accountability

    GH0026, 2017, Fiscal Transparency

  8. Technology and Innovation

    GH0027, 2017, Capacity Building

  9. Starred commitment Open Contracting

    GH0014, 2015, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  10. RTI

    GH0015, 2015, Right to Information

  11. Citizen’S Participation

    GH0016, 2015, Public Participation

  12. Fiscal Openness

    GH0017, 2015, Legislation & Regulation

  13. Starred commitment Revenue Management

    GH0018, 2015, Legislation & Regulation

  14. Open Data

    GH0019, 2015, Open Data

  15. Fiscal Responsibility

    GH0001, 2013, Legislation & Regulation

  16. Fiscal Transparency

    GH0002, 2013, Capacity Building

  17. Right to Information

    GH0003, 2013, Capacity Building

  18. Human Rights and Anti-Corruption

    GH0004, 2013, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  19. Extractive Sector Revenue Management

    GH0005, 2013, Extractive Industries

  20. Investment Oversight

    GH0006, 2013, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  21. Citizen Participation

    GH0007, 2013, Capacity Building

  22. Code of Conduct Bill

    GH0008, 2013, Asset Disclosure

  23. Audit Reports

    GH0009, 2013, Audits and Controls

  24. National Broadcasting

    GH0010, 2013, Civic Space

  25. e-Immigration

    GH0011, 2013, Citizenship and Immigration

  26. Financial Management

    GH0012, 2013, Citizenship and Immigration

  27. Starred commitment Policy Portal

    GH0013, 2013, Citizenship and Immigration