Abstract:
Ghana’s local government system is premised on citizen’s participation at the local level. Since the enactment of the Local Government Law in 1993, governance structures and systems have been put in place to grant greater autonomy and administrative capacity to local governments, without a commensurate enhancement in the capacity and quality of participation of citizens at the local level. Apart from examining the nature and organisation of civil society organisations, the study focuses on the experience of civil society’s engagement with the current structures and processes of governance, highlighting the levels, forms and the effectiveness of the existing institutional framework for the participation of civil society organisations in local level governance. A qualitative method was employed to gather data through focus group discussions and interviews with members of civil society organisations and key informants at the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District Assembly in the Central Region. A focus group discussion guide and an interview schedule were developed to elicit responses from members of civil society organisations and 10 key informants from the District Assembly. The study concluded that the existing institutional, legal and policy framework for civil society participation in decision making at the local level is ineffective in promoting participation and recommends a stronger and mandatory policy guideline that compels the District Assembly to involve local civil society organisations in political, social and economic decision making at the local level. It also emphasises the need for civil society re-organisation and orientation to enhance their capacity to appreciate governance and participate accordingly.
