Ethnic-Based Associations in Accra and Rural Community Development

Abstract

This research aimed at exploring the role of ethnic-based associations in Accra and their impact on rural development. It specifically sought to examine rationales behind the formation of ethnic-based associations, their activities and its impacts, to explore their challenges in relation to their interaction at community and local authority levels and as well to find out their involvement in decision making processes that concern their beneficiary communities. The study adopted social capital as its theoretical framework that the World Bank postulates as crucial in sustainable rural development programs and used it to demonstrate how social cohesion mechanism intertwined with resources produced by associational lve achieves public good result within rural communities. Through qualitative approach, interview guide was used and administered on executives of two (2) identified ethnic-based associations in Accra and on the community leaders of Atiavi and leaders at Keta Municipal Authority. The analysis of data and literature shows that the activities of these associations are having positive impacts in the beneficiary communities but fraught with much challenges largely to do with funding for their activities. Recommendations made include sensitization of municipal authorities, a departure from non-subscribing nature of the associations to subscribing in order to boost funding and an amendment of the Local Government Act 462, 1993 to provide space for civil society organizations in decision making processes at local authority level.