Abstract:
The study set out to assess the effectiveness of capacity building (CB) activities in
three selected decentralised local government institutions in the Central Region of
Ghana. In terms of methods, the descriptive survey design and mixed method
approaches were employed. Multi-stage sampling procedures were used to select a
sample of 417 respondents. Purposive sampling was used to select national and
regional Directors, and Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly. Simple random
sampling technique was used to select the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA)
Municipal Assembly and the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Assembly.
Questionnaires, interview schedules, and interview guides were used to collect
data. Documentary reviews, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to
analyse the data. The study found that although a lot of CB efforts have been made
in the three study areas, they all focused mainly on training but not on other physical
resources such as tools. The CB approach did not involve actors in needs
assessment, design of programmes, as well as dearth of monitoring and evaluation
of CB programmes. However, the approach influenced commitment, enthusiasm,
empowerment, and learning, among others. There were statistically significant
association between the comprehensiveness of CB activities and empowerment in
the study MMDAs. The study recommends that officials of Local Government
Service as well as leaders of the MMDAs should develop a CB framework to guide
the approach. Leaders of the MMDAs should involve actors in the CB process to
elicit ownership, empowerment, and learning.
