The Contribution of the Department for International Development (DFID) to Rural Development in Ghana

Abstract

Development aid continues to play an important role in the economies of developing countries. It is an important capital injection for most African states, including Ghana. This study assesses the contribution of the Department for International Development (DFID) to rural development in Ghana. It also, reviews and describes DFID’s development interventions in line with Ghana’s national development blueprint, the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA). Based on interviews and secondary sources, the study concluded that the DFID plays a significant role in rural development, despite funding constraints. Its development interventions are in the area of health, education, poverty reduction, wealth creation and governance, thus complementing Ghana’s effort toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The study recommends that the Nation Development Planning Commission (NDPC) coordinates all development aid activities in order to target development trapped sectors and to avoid duplications, especially in rural communities. Also, Ghana should reduce its overdependence on development aid and redirect its effort towards domestic capital accumulation for development interventions in rural communities to promote national growth.