Citizen Participation (GH0007)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Ghana Action Plan 2013-2014
Action Plan Cycle: 2013
Status:
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, Local Commitments, Public ParticipationIRM Review
IRM Report: Ghana 2013-2014 End of Term Report, Ghana Progress Report 2013-2014
Early Results: Marginal
Design i
Verifiable: Yes
Relevant to OGP Values: Yes
Ambition (see definition): Low
Implementation i
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
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