Examination Of Accountability Practices In The Public Sector (A Case Of Some Selected MMDAS In The Upper East Region)

Abstract

The global demand for accountability has led to governments all over the world reforming their public sectors in order to comply with this global wave. When there is accountability in the public sector, the people to whom the accounts are rendered to will consider the institutions legitimate and will contribute their efforts for the overall success of the organizations. Despite the fact that there exist legislations for the ordinary citizens to hold public officials to account for their actions, there have been instances of non-accountability in the public sector. A typical case is the Center for Democratic Development-Ghana draft report indicting some MMDAs of not being accountable to the citizenry. The study sought to examine the accountability practices in the public sector. It also highlighted the capacity of stakeholders to hold public officials to account and the various legislations on accountability in Ghana and how these legislations have been complied with by responsible officials/staff duty. The study was conducted in two rural districts in the Upper East Region based on the Ghana Statistical Service standards, Bongo District and Kassena-Nankana West District. The research was conducted using qualitative approach. The main instrument used in gathering data was interviews, where officers and stakeholders of the various MMDAs were the main focus. The key findings from the study were that the various MMDAs largely comply with the various legislations put in place to account for their actions except that the stakeholders involved in the MMDAs lack the requisite capacity to hold officials of the MMDAs to account. It was found out that the stakeholders were mere spectators in the accountability process. The study was conclusive that accountability was and remains a desirable organizational tool for public sector organizations to embrace. This will result in the effective use of public resources which will result in the overall development of the nation and reduction in poverty levels of the people.