Information use and policy decision making by district Assembly Members in Ghana

Abstract

This study investigates the information utilisation for policy decision-making by assembly members in Ghana’s local government system. The survey method using questionnaires was used to collect data from a sample of 200. The study revealed that information needs of assembly members were related to their legislative and policy-making tasks within the assembly. It was also found out that policy makers in the assembly system of Ghana had little access to relevant and reliable information when making decisions about policies, programmes and policy implementation. Decisions were therefore often made based on the distance their memories can permit. The study made a number of recommendations, prominent among them are the presentation of information sources in appropriate formats for assembly members, enhancing the capability of assembly members through training, the establishment of district assembly libraries and information centres, the provision of adequate funding by assemblies to support subscription to relevant information sources and the effective dissemination of information by MMDAs to the district assemblies.