Conflict and local governance: a case of the Kassena-Nankana West District, Ghana

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.