Political Accountability of Local Government in Ghana
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THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF DECENTRALISATION: POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN GHANA A case study of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality Inaugural-Dissertation zur Erlangung der Doktorwürde der Philosophischen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhems-Universität zu Bonn vorgelegt von Stephen Nana Ato Arthur aus Elmina, Ghana Bonn 2012 Gedruckt mit der Genehmigung der Philosophischen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhems-Universität Bonn 1. Referentin: Prof. Dr. Solvay Gerke 2. Referent: PD Dr. Conrad Schetter Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: June 28, 2012 DEDICATION TO MY WIFE Mrs. HANNAH ARTHUR AND CHILDREN ALBERTA ARTHUR NANA ESI AHEMA ARTHUR NANA YAW OPPONG ARTHUR iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A number of actors and institutions have contributed academically, financially, socially and spiritually to the successful completion of this doctoral research project, for which I wish to register my sincerest gratitude and appreciation. Academically, I wish to extend my deepest respect to my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Solvay Gerke for directing this research in addition to deepening my research skills and knowledge. In fact, her visit to Ghana in April 2009 contributed to my academic entry to the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn. Similarly, I am very grateful to PD. Dr. Conrad Schetter, my second supervisor. He guided me initially in settling on the research topic and also took me through the intricacies of research proposal writing. I would also wish to thank Dr. Wolfram Laube who has worked tirelessly to support me as a tutor throughout this research. Dr. Laube’s professional expertise in governance in Ghana has contributed immensely in this research project. Admittedly, without the insightful and often fundamental criticisms of this “trio”, this thesis would have been very different from what it is now. Additionally, I wish to thank the academic and administrative staff of ZEF who has supported me academically throughout this project. Although they are numerous, mention could be made of Dr. Gunther Manske, the coordinator of ZEF, Frau Rosemarie Zabel, a real administrator indeed; and ZEFa secretaries, Sonja and Marijke. I must also acknowledge Prof. J. V. Mensah and Dr. Enu-Kwesi, both of the Institute for Development Studies (IDS); Mr. James Eshun and Dr. Barima Antwi - all of the University of Cape Coast (UCC); Professor Kwesi Jonah and Dr. Emmanuel K. Debrah of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana; Dr. Esther Ofei-Aboagye and her deputy, Dr. Calistus Mahama of ILGS for their guidance and support during my field research in Ghana. To Prof. Felix Asante and Dr. George Owusu of ISSER, University of Ghana, I say thank you. Special thanks also go to the Vice Chancellor of UCC and the Dean of Physical Sciences who kindly offered an office on UCC campus during my field work. To my five research assistants: Gideon O. Annor-Gyamfi, Alex Asare, Alberta Kpeleku, Eric Yankson and Gabriel Obed Fosu; and especially for Mr. Maurice Kukuri of IDS and Chris Yaw Kwaah of Faculty of Education, UCC, I say thank you for your support during iv the data collection phase in Ghana. It also goes to the following persons who supported me here in ZEF: Prof. Dr. H-D. Evers, Dr. Benjamin Schraven, Dr. Charles Eyong, Dr. Gabi Waibel, Dr. Saravanan, Dr. Irit Eguavoen, Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Guido Luchters, Dr. Joe Hill, Katja Mielke, Dr. Aram Ziai, Dr. Till Stellmacher and Dr. Emmanuel Akpabio. I dearly appreciate the excellent comments from my research colleagues – B.B. Campion (University of Bremen); Joseph Kugbe, Farah, Hahn, Sven, Girma, Anisiya, Rahul, Hart, Ramli, Anastasiya, Tapiwa and Jonas – all of ZEF. I am also deeply indebted to all the actors and institutions who gave me substantial time when I talked with them or helped to dig out documents, data and archival materials. Financially, my special thanks go to the Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer Dienst (KAAD) who offered me the scholarship for the second time to pursue this PhD program. After offering me a 2- year scholarship in 1995-1997 for my M. Sc. program in the University of Dortmund (Germany) and KNUST (Ghana), I thought that was the end. Little did I know that the KAAD was there to provide me with funding again, thanks to their benevolence. It is very appropriate and proper to mention Dr. Marko Kuhn and Frau Simone Saure, both of the Africa Desk of the KAAD who have been very supportive in all my endeavours throughout the research period. To these actors, I extend my deepest appreciation. I also appreciate the funding provided to me for the workshop in Elmina by the German Development Service, (DED), in particular to Ms. Annette Turmann currently with GIZ, Accra, Ghana. Socially, I am also very grateful to all the friends in Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Dusseldorf and Essen whose contribution made my stay here in Bonn quite exciting. I thank the many individuals who shared their precious time with me on multiple occasions. Spiritually, as a Christian and a practicing Catholic, I see the hand of God in whatever I am able to achieve in life. Whatever I have achieved here in ZEF was made possible because God blessed my efforts. My spiritual director, Peter A. Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome and former Archbishop of Cape Coast, you are gratefully acknowledged. Having a stable home has also helped. I surely would not have been able to come this far without the understanding and support of my dear wife, Mrs. Hannah Arthur, the children and the entire family. Finally, even after such extensive help, I am solely responsible for any shortcomings of this thesis. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................. xii LIST OF PLATES .................................................................................................................................. xiii LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................... xiii DEUTSCHE KURZZUSAMMENFASSUNG .............................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................................... 14 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 14 1.1 The Dilemma of a Politician and the task of a Researcher...................................................... 14 1.2 Background of the Study ......................................................................................................... 15 1.3 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 18 1.4 Objectives of Research ............................................................................................................ 20 1.5 Central Research Question and Sub Questions ...................................................................... 20 1.6 Significance of the Study ......................................................................................................... 21 1.7 Structure of the Study ............................................................................................................. 22 CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................................... 24 CONCEPTUALISING DECENTRALISATION, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ................ 24 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 24 2.2. Conceptualizing Decentralisation .......................................................................................... 25 2.3 Typologies of Decentralisation ................................................................................................ 26 2.3.1 Political Decentralisation ................................................................................................. 27 2.3.2 Fiscal Decentralisation ..................................................................................................... 29 2.3.3 Administrative Decentralisation ...................................................................................... 30 2.4 Conceptualising Local Government ........................................................................................ 31 2.5 Ideological Underpinnings of Decentralisation ....................................................................... 34 2.6 The Driving Force of Decentralisation around the World ....................................................... 35 2.7 The Abuses and Conflicts of Decentralisation........................................................................