Abstract:
The understanding of conflict and local governance as a result of
competing interest by people at the local level informed the study. The overall
objective of the study was to assess conflict and local governance in the KassenaNankana West District. Through a sample size of 398 respondents comprising 239
(60%) males and 159(40%) females were interviewed using interview schedule.
Five District Assembly staff, the Presiding Member and 23 Assembly Members
were purposively selected and interviewed using interview guides. Quantitative
and qualitative data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions
(SPSS ver.16) and Nvivo.7 respectively.
The study revealed that the development of the district was a shared
responsibility among various stakeholders and not the sole responsibility of the
District Assembly. Some of the causes of conflict at the local level include low
participation of citizens in decision making, poor information dissemination and
inadequate financial resources available to the district to undertake development
projects that would meet the interest of the majority. From the study, conflict
result in heightened demand for the creation of separate districts out of the
existing district. During community gatherings, people preach peace and the need
for peaceful co-existence as a conflict management strategy.
To effectively manage conflict at the local level, DAs should mainstream
peacebuilding and conflict management in their Medium Term Development
Plans as a major activity. It is important that divergent interests are managed at
the local level so as not to degenerate into violent conflict.
