Ghana Journal of Development Studies

Promoting effective local participation in local decision-makingprocesses: Perspectives from sub-district structures in Karaga District, Ghana

Francis Nangbeviel Sanyare — 2024-06-28

The aims of decentralisation in Ghana are consistent with views that decentralisationpromotes good governance, increases community participation, and enhances local development. Consequently, decentralisation is purposed to stimulate meaningful local engagement in needs-based government development agenda-making at thelocal level. This notwithstanding, local communities’ involvement in local government decision-making remains marginal. This paper examined the spacefor community participation in decision-making within the Karaga District of Ghana. Theresults of concurrent mixed methods in a cross-sectional study, showthat nonfunctional local structures, inadequate staff, and inadequate logistics criticallychallenged local community involvement in decision-making. The study recommends an essential rethinking of this process in ways that offer opportunities for adeliberate strengthening of the capacities of local structures to undertake their responsibilities. Appropriate strengthening strategies and logistics are requiredtobuild capacities for effective performance. Raising local inhabitants’ awareness of the relevance of public policy for communal development would also help prevent parochial partisan considerations from working against overall communityaspirations.

The making of pognaa (woman chief) in the Waala Traditional Political System: Implications for women’s involvement in community governance

Adams Sabogu — 2024-06-28

This study examines the complexities surrounding the position of the pognaa (Woman Chief) within Ghana’s patrilineal Waala traditional political system. Employing sociocultural discourse study and Foucault's notion of discourse and power, the study investigates situated social practices and power dynamics constructing the identity and position of pognaa, in Dorimon and Wechiau Traditional Areas. The study reveals that the construction of pognaa’s identity and position within the patrilineal society embeds power struggle and resistance, and that the making of pognaa or pognamine is neither an innovation nor an imposition of Ghana’s bureaucratic governance institutions. It is a cultural practice underpinned in patrilineal societies of Ghana’s Upper West Region. Also, the criteria for selecting a pognaa, unlike the chief, is unclear, ambiguous and fraught with practices of coexisting traditional and bureaucratic power structures, and the pognaa or Pognamine do not play any strategic role in traditional power structures. The study contributes to a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities regarding women's leadership roles within patrilineal societies, and contemporary transformations. Highlighting the interplay of power, gender roles, and cultural discourses that shape the pognaa’s position, the study offers valuable insights into women and leadership in Traditional community governing practices and development.

Interrogating the effectiveness of statutory bodies and state enterprises committee on budget oversight in Botswana: An exploratory study

Thato Queen Lesole — 2024-06-28

This study explored the effectiveness of the Statutory Bodies and Public Enterprises (SBPE) Committee on budget oversight in Botswana. The accountability theorygrounded this research. The study predominantly embraced a qualitative approachand an exploratory research design to interrogate the effectiveness of theCommittee’s oversight function. It used both primary and secondary data collection methods. In terms of primary data collection, interviews were conducted withkeystakeholders involved in the budget oversight function. Additionally, the studyconducted a documentary review of relevant government reports, budgets, andfinancial statements to supplement the information gathered frominterviews. Thematic analysis was conducted based on the data obtained. The study observedthat the SBPE Committee was perceived as ineffective in undertaking its oversight responsibility. Poor accountability manifested in various ways, including untimelyand inaccurate financial reporting. Also, inadequate technical expertise, funding, logistics, low autonomy, lack of enforcement capacity, and poor separation of power impeded the Committee’s ability to perform its oversight responsibility effectively. The research recommended constitutional reforms in Botswana that wouldempower parliament to follow through on its recommendations and emancipatethelegislative arm of government from executive control and manipulation.

Females’ engagement in Galamsey and its effects on household livelihoods in Ghana: A case of Manso Ayirebikrom in Amansie South District

Joseph Nti Mensah — 2024-06-28

Intensive measures to stop galamsey are still effective. However, these measures havenotconsidered the livelihoods of those engaged, particularly females and are thereforequestionable in mainstream literature. Hence, this study assessed the effects of females' engagement in galamsey on their household livelihoods. The study employedamixedresearch approach. It included semi-structured interview questions, primary data fromasample of 50 females, and relevant literature. The study identified that females, tomeethousehold needs but lack sufficient income resulting from a lack of productive employmentand other factors, enter into galamsey, with their income, substantially contributingtohousehold needs. However, the study further disclosed that galamsey is unstableandinsecure as females hardly cope with ban enforcement, health and safety concerns, andgender marginalization, which challenge females’ households. The study recommendedthatpolicymakers and development organizations, including the government, Ministry of Labour, Rural Development, Gender and Social Protection, and NGOs, create job opportunities, provide credit facilities and affordable loans to support female entrepreneurs, anddiversifytheir income sources. Furthermore, the government is advised to empower females througheducation, gender awareness, leadership, and livelihood programmes to enable themtoleverage several livelihood opportunities to improve their households.

Employability skills and job performance of graduate students in developing countries: The moderating role

Felix Kwame Opoku — 2024-06-28

Previous studies on employability skills and job performance utilised data fromemployers and students without paying attention to graduates who workconcurrently. These studies also presume that having acquired employability skills, one will perform on the job. According to other studies, this is far fromreality duetorecent mismatches between graduate skills and their jobs. Thus, questions remainas to whether the link between employability skills and job performance has beenthoroughly investigated. Against this background, the current study examinedthemoderation of skill mismatch on the relationship between employability skills andgraduate job performance. Data were collected from 580 respondents and analysedusing PLS-SEM. It was revealed that skill mismatch moderates this relationship. It was also indicated that the perceptions of graduates who work concurrently wereequally relevant for assessing this link. Future studies were, thus, recommendedtoconsider the perceptions of graduates who work concurrently in their respective studies.

Towards Bui Reservoir Fisheries Sustainability: Perspectives of Riparian Community

Esther Wahaga — 2024-06-28

Sustainability after the creation of the Bui Dam has been problematic, with the Bui Power Authority (BPA) addressing the environmental, economic, and social concerns related to sustainability. As a result, electricity generation and irrigationaremanaged to ensure long-term social, economic, and ecological sustainability. Thestudy thus aims to advance societal progress by analysing the impacts of social, economic, and environmental sustainability on both current and future generations, focusing on the concerns of reservoir stakeholders. Approaches used were Formal Surveys guided by semi-structured interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), andKey Informant Interviews (KII). Qualitative and quantitative data were collectedandanalysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Evidence showedthat fish capture, processing, and trade were critical economic activities that sustained residents and impacted their economic, social, and cultural well-being. Fishers operated daily with unapproved and destructive gear such as hook-and-linetraps and beach-seine nets, which were detrimental to the sustainability of thefisheries. The fishing pressure (1,500 fisher population and 2,000 canoes) was hostiletowards the sustainability of fishing in the reservoir. Recommendations weretorestrict the reserved reservoir component, establish local fish catch monitoringstations, and build local fisher folk capacity to gather critical monitoringinformation.