UNIVERSITY OF GHANA INSTITUTE OF STATISTICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH (ISSER) “ASSESSING THE EXTENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN MEDIUM- TERM DEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROCESSES: A CASE STUDY OF AWUTU SENYA EAST MUNICIPALITY” BY EVANS EWUDZIE ABBAN (10223488) THIS DISSERTATION IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES JULY, 2015 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh i DECLARATION I, Evans Ewudzie Abban, do hereby declare that this dissertation submitted to the University of Ghana for the Master’s degree in Development Studies has not been submitted previously to any other institution. With the exception of materials used from other works which have been duly acknowledged, this study is solely mine and was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe. ………………………………………. Evans Ewudzie Abban (Student) ………………………………………. Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe (Supervisor) University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ii ABSTRACT The global recognition of community participation as essential to development is an issue on which there is greater consensus in literature. More importantly, involving people in planning through consultative problem identification and designing of initiatives cannot be overemphasised. Wrongly identifying and designing such initiatives without proper community consultations, renders plans and initiatives unresponsive to community needs. The acceptance of decentralization in general and its participatory planning approach in particular indicates that nations including Ghana have opted to move on the path which ensures that development is sustainable, by developing responsive plans guided by several regulations. Regardless of the existence of these regulations, community problems have persisted in most local government areas in Ghana, with limited enquiry on how communities are actually involved in the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) preparation process which forms the basis of initiatives implemented to solve these problems. In this light, this study focused on assessing community involvement in medium-term development planning processes in the Awutu Senya East Municipality. A mixed method approach was employed to assess community awareness of the MTDP and its preparation process, awareness of the role of community members, strategies employed by the Municipal Assembly to involve community members and the responsiveness of the 2014- 2014 MTDP to community needs. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh iii The results showed that community members within the municipality are largely ignorant of the MTDP and its preparation process and thus, participation in the process is the preserve of a few. The depth of this was evident by the general public ignorance on their roles in the MTDP processes. That notwithstanding, strategies employed by the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly to involve the few community members appear satisfactory but still requires attention, especially on approach used during and after the planning meetings. Consequently, the 2014-2017 MTDP generally suits the needs of the municipality but has some significant prioritization disparities as pertain to specific areas within the municipality. Based on these findings the study recommended workable alternatives for properly involving community members in the MTDP preparation processes within the municipality. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh iv DEDICATION I dedicate this work to the Almighty God, Mr. and Mrs. Ewudzie and Frederick Ewudzie, my ever loving brother, who have shown me more love and care than one expects from a family. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh v ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Lord God Almighty, who above all his goodness saved me from the June 3, 2015 national flood and fire tragedy in the course of my study. I owe my very life to you Lord, and your promise (Jeremiah 29:11) did not fail. Secondly, I acknowledge the support of my family especially my mother, who through thick and thin provided for me. I also humbly express my profound gratitude to Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe, who bore the pain of shaping a research novice within a very short period. I do appreciate my brothers and sisters in the Lord for their prayers which strengthened me to stay focused during the period of my study. Lastly, it will be very ungrateful on my part not to mention Kojo Opare Essel, my best friend for his patience, encouragement and support and also my classmates especially; Don Papa Steven, Abena Acheapomaa Nyamesem, Ebenezer Quaye, Jeffrey Ahlijah and Emily Nyarko for their companionship. Wendy Boakye’s support was also timely and selfless. I say the ever benevolent Lord favour you all according to His divine will. Thank you all. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION i ABSTRACT ii DEDICATION iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.0 Background of the Study 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem 4 1.2 Research Questions 6 1.3 Research Objectives 7 1.4 Significance of the Study 7 1.5 Organisation of the Study 8 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 10 2.0 Introduction 10 2.1 Understanding Community Participation 10 2.2 Relevance of Community Participation 12 2.3 Participation Typologies 14 2.3.1 Jackson’s Model of Participation 17 2.4 Strategies for Effective Participation 19 2.5 Challenges of Community Participation 21 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh vii 2.6 Decentralization and Development Planning 22 2.6.1 Structure of Decentralization in Ghana 23 2.6.2 Decentralised Development Planning 24 2.6.3 Process of Decentralised Development Planning and Spaces for Participation 26 2.6.4. Role of the Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit 26 2.6.5 Role of the Municipal Assembly and Sub-District Structure Members 27 2.6.6 Participation in Public Hearing Events 28 2.7 Summary of Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly MTDP 29 2.8 Conceptual Framework 31 2.9 Summary 34 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 36 3.0 Introduction 36 3.1 Research Design 36 3.2 Data Sources 37 3.3 Sample Size 38 3.4 Sampling Techniques 38 3.5 Study Instruments and Data Collection Procedure 40 3.6 Data Processing and Analysis 41 3.7 Ethical Issues 42 3.8 Profile of Awutu Senya East Municipality 42 3.8.1 General Background 42 3.8.2 Location and Size 42 3.8.3 Demographic Characteristics 44 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh viii 3.8.4 Political and Administrative Structure 44 3.8.5 Economy 45 3.8.6 Health 46 3.8.7 Education 46 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS 47 4.0 Introduction 47 4.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents 47 4.2 Awareness of Medium-Term Development Planning 50 4.3 Community Role in Medium-Term Development Planning Process 56 4.4 Strategies for Effective Participation in MTDP Preparation Processes 61 4.4.1 Strategies Employed Prior to the Planning Meetings 61 4.4.2 Strategies Employed During the Meeting 65 4.4.3 Post Planning Interaction with Community Members 70 4.5. Responsiveness of 2014-2017 MTDP to Community Needs 71 4.5.1 Zonal Needs Variations 73 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.0 Introduction 75 5.1 Main Findings 75 5.2 Conclusions 75 5.3 Recommendations 79 REFERENCES 82 APPENDICES 90 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ix Appendix A: Survey Questionnaire for Zonal Residents 90 Appendix B: Interview Guide for Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit 105 Appendix C: Interview Guide for Key Stakeholders (Group Representatives) 108 Appendix D: List of Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit Members 110 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh x LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1: Summary of Some Participation Typologies and Their Orientations 17 Table 2.2: Zonal Rankings of Community Needs 30 Table 3.1: Details of Sampled Zones, Communities and Respondents 39 Table 4.1: Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents 48 Table 4.2: Knowledge of MTDP Preparation Process by Sex 52 Table 4.3: Knowledge of MTDP Preparation by Age Category 53 Table 4.4: Knowledge of MTDP Preparation Process by Zonal Area 54 Table 4.5: Have You Ever Been Involved in the MTDP Preparation Process? 55 Table 4.6: Respondents’ Perception on the Information about MDTP 55 Table 4.7: Reasons for Not Participating in MTDP Preparation Process 60 Table 4.8: Zonal Council Diagnostic Meeting Days 65 Table 4.9: Comparative Analysis of Variations in Community Needs 74 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh xi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation 15 Figure 2.2: Local Government Structure in Ghana 24 Figure 2.3: Conceptual Framework 33 Figure 3.1: Map of Awutu Senya East Municipality 43 Figure 3.2: Local Government Structure in Awutu Senya East Municipal 45 Figure 4.1: Community Knowledge of MTDP and its Preparation Process 51 Figure 4.2: Did You Know Your Role before the MTDP Meeting? 57 Figure 4.3: Respondents’ Rating of Education on MDTP Preparation Processes 58 Figure 4.4: Respondents’ Ratings of Strategies Employed Prior to MTDP Preparation Meetings 62 Figure 4.5: Means of Invitation to MTDP Meetings 63 Figure 4.6: Respondents’ Ratings of Language Used during MTDP Meetings 65 Figure 4.7: Respondents’ Perception of Diversity of Stakeholders Present During MTDP Preparation Meetings 67 Figure 4.8: Gender Pattern of Community Participation at Zonal Council MTDP Meetings 68 Figure 4.9: Respondents’ Rating on Opportunity to Contribute to Discussions In MTDP Preparation Process 69 Figure 4.10: Respondents’ Interaction on MTDP after Final Public Hearing 70 Figure 4.11 General Community Needs of Selected Zonal Council Areas 72 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh xii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ASEMA Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly GPRS I Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy GPRS II Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy GSGDA Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda IAP2 International Association for Public Participation MDGs Millennium Development Goals MMDAs Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies MMTDP Municipal Medium-Term Development Plan MPCU Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit MTD Medium-Term Development MTDP Medium-Term Development Plan NDPC National Development Planning Commission PNDC Provisional National Defence Council RCC Regional Coordinating Council RPCU Regional Planning Coordinating Unit SDGs Sustainable Development Goals UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 Background to the Study The global pursuit of development has produced great insight in pathways of ensuring better living standards for all people, with particular focus on the poor and marginalised over the years. This is evident in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which have been the fulcrum of most development initiatives in most parts of the world since the year 2000 (Todaro and Smith, 2012). As this global development agenda ebbs to an end in 2015, the post MDGs agenda for development-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - further underscore the worldwide desire and commitment to improving living conditions (UNDP, 2014). In the preparatory stages of these new global development objectives, notable cross- cutting issues identified in the consultation processes were people’s quest for participation, inclusion, capacity building and building partnerships. As expressed in the United Nations Development Group publication “Delivering the Post 2015 Development Agenda: Opportunities at the National and Local levels”, people’s quest for participation opportunities and inclusion were aptly captured as an important element demanded by all stakeholders and hence reckoned as the “most important signal” that people are sending (UNDP, 2014:2). Issues of participation and inclusion are therefore necessary if sustainable development as expected by this new global agenda will be achieved (Kumar, 2002) Essentially, participation in development processes is not wholly new but inherent in diverse cultures, prior to the contemporary hype (Mansouri and Rao, 2013). Its University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 2 desirability has therefore attracted multi-disciplinary interest, resulting in several studies at the international, national and local levels (Mulwa, 2008). In effect, it has attracted a lot of terms in most development discourses. Notable among them are community participation, citizen participation, people’s participation, public participation and popular participation (Amponsah and Boafo-Arthur, 2003; Mansouri and Rao, 2013; Garau, 2012). But all underscore the relevance of involving beneficiaries in development processes especially during the design and implementation of development initiatives. So, James Wolfensohn’s (Former President of the World Bank) assertion in his 1998 annual meeting speech that “participation matters—not only as a means of improving development effectiveness, as we know from our recent studies—but as the key to long- term sustainability and leverage” still resonates (Aycrigg, 1998:1). In the 1970s and 1980s, decentralization was massively advocated particularly in Africa due to the strong attribution of the centralised planning system failure to limited involvement of the public (Ayee and Amponsah, 2003; Khwaja, 2004). The recognition and acceptance of community participation in development and planning in particular is further underscored by the legalities and explicit decentralization mechanisms adopted by various developing countries to ensure and encourage participation (Sanyare, 2013). In effect, community participation is entrenched deliberately by designed legal frameworks in many developing nations to ensure it is not overlooked and the case of Ghana is not different. Chapter Twenty (20) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, requires that residents of particular local government areas should be given the opportunity to participate in development processes. The Constitution further indicates vividly that the sovereignty of the nation University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 3 resides in Ghanaians and hence all development initiatives must be participatory to improve their welfare (Constitution of Ghana, 1992). Other specific regulations, directives and guidelines exist to ensure community participation in the planning and implementation of development projects and programmes in Ghana (Ahwoi, 2010). The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) is the institution mandated to coordinate and guide planning at all levels as specified by the National Development Planning Act and Local Government Act (Act 480 and 462) (Yankson, 2000; Ahwoi, 2010). Accordingly, these Acts mandate Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to prepare Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) by consulting local community members to ensure the needs and aspirations of communities are well captured, prioritised and implemented to improve their welfare. Additionally, a specific guideline on developing the MTDPs -which guides development in MMDAs - is provided by the NDPC periodically before the commencement of the preparation process. This specific guideline details the various processes and spaces for community participation in the MTDP preparation process (Maple Consult, 2010; NDPC, 2013). The benefits of decentralised development planning as envisioned per the Medium-Term Development (MTD) planning, with its participatory nature are well-captured in literature (Ayee and Amponsah, 2003). Lisk (1985) asserts aptly that the real impact of participation for sustainable development can be achieved in the planning system. Ayee (2003) similarly noted that involving communities in development planning enhances project design. Community participation is also noted to develop the potential of the local people to make appropriate decisions which affect their own lives by ensuring proper identification and prioritization of community needs, and how these needs can be University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 4 adequately provided (Olujimi and Egunjobi, 1991). Meaningful community participation also aids poverty targeting, builds social capital, increases demand for good governance and ensures that local knowledge and preferences are duly incorporated in the decision- making processes of governments and private sector (Mansouri and Rao, 2013). Consequently, service delivery is effective, right beneficiaries are targeted and scarce public resources are equitably distributed and optimally used. Since 1997 when the first MTDP guideline amidst several other regulations was issued to ensure community participation in development planning, the reality is dicey as community problems still persists (Botchie, 2000). It is therefore necessary to understand the MTDP and the extent to which community members are actually involved in its preparation process. This forms the basis of this study. 1.1 Statement of the Problem Globally, participation in development planning processes as depicted by several typologies developed by scholars, show levels of community participation which are unlikely to yield the desired results (Arnstein, 1969; Connor 1988). This was noted as the major deficiency of the centralised planning especially in developing countries (Yankson, 2000; Khwaja, 2004). Though Sanyare (2013) noted that most aid-dependent developing nations adopted decentralised systems due to pressure from donor partners, the response of Ghana to this massive acceptance of decentralization differs (Tandoh-Offin, 2013). As noted by Tandoh-Offin (2013), decentralised planning in Ghana was intended to avoid the negatives of the centralised planning system which led to implementation of plans without prior consideration of its viability and rigidity. Thus, centralised plans failed to University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 5 adequately reflect the needs of the local people because they were not involved (Ayee, 2000). The success of the decentralised planning system depends largely on the partnership between institution mandated to facilitate the process and community members (Blair, 2004). Hence most decentralised development planning systems are deliberately designed and backed with regulations and guidelines to ensure such partnerships in planning and implementation of development programmes and projects (Sanyare, 2013). The expectation is that the extensive legal provisions and directives will clearly serve as way of facilitating local community involvement to avoid any disconnection between community needs and initiatives aimed at improving people’s welfare. The persistent and perennial development challenges in local government areas including the Awutu Senya East Municipality cast some doubts on whether community members were actually involved in the planning process. Though specific regulations and explicit provision of guidelines to ensure community participation in the medium-term development planning process exist in Ghana, the reality is complex as the actual extent of involvement in the planning process is not enough (Yankson, 2000; Ofei-Aboagye, 2011; Addoquaye Tagoe, 2012). The extent of community members’ awareness of provisions for their participation is doubtful, while the strategies and techniques aimed at inducing participation are highly cosmetic (Kenny, 1997). Ayee & Amponsah (2003) commented for instance that generally, there is lack of information on District Assemblies activities and mandates, especially on their projects and programmes. The perennial and persistent problems seem to suggest the non-responsiveness of plans to improving living standards of people (ASEMA, 2014). University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 6 Additionally, the problems of the Awutu Senya East Municipality are increasing, due in part to its strategic location to the capital city of Ghana and vibrant market activities as expressed in the name of the capital Kasoa (which means “market” in the Hausa language). It continues to experience high population increase through spill over populations from the capital and the vibrant market activity which offers hope for migrants, making proper planning imperative. In line with the emerging recognition of peri-urban centres as engines of growth and hope for the poor, this reality can only be realised when developed plans are responsive to the needs of current and future inhabitants (Owusu, 2013). However, there is little research specifically on the processes of how MTDPs are developed in Ghana and particularly on the involvement of communities in the preparation of Medium-Term Development Plans. Consequently, poor sanitation, lack of potable drinking water, poor security and lighting, poor land use and poor road networks have plagued the municipality for years. It is therefore necessary to consider the extent of community involvement in MTDP preparation process, particularly in the face of increasing developmental challenges associated with rapid urbanization. 1.2 Research Questions The main research question borders on the extent to which the people in the Awutu Senya East Municipality are involved in the processes towards the preparation of the Municipal Medium-Term Development Plan. Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions: University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 7  What knowledge do community members have about the medium-term development plan and its preparation processes in Awutu Senya East Municipality?  What level of education do community members have about their roles in the preparation of the MTDP within Awutu Senya East Municipality?  What strategies are employed by the Municipal Assembly to ensure meaningful participation in the Awutu Senya East Municipality?  How responsive is the Awutu Senya East Municipality’s 2014 – 2017 MTDP to community needs? 1.3 Research Objectives The main purpose of the study is to ascertain the extent of community involvement in the MTDP process. Specifically, the study sought to:  ascertain community awareness of the MTDP and its preparation process in the Awutu Senya East Municipality,  discover community members’ education on their roles with respect to the medium-term development planning process in Awutu Senya East Municipality,  assess the implementation of the strategies outlined in the guideline by the Municipal Assembly to ensure community participation in the planning process in the Awutu Senya East Municipality and  ascertain the responsiveness of the 2014-2017 MTDP to community needs in the Awutu Senya East Municipality. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 8 1.4 Significance of the Study Community participation in development initiatives is necessary for numerous reasons, particularly sustainability (Aycrigg, 1998). This is evident by the adoption of the decentralised system to ensure decisions are made by the very people who are affected and this underscores importance of this study. Essentially, the study will contribute to existing academic knowledge of community involvement in initiating programmes and projects which affects their welfare. It will also be beneficial to policy discussions and make recommendations which will boost the implementation of the National Development Planning Commission provisions for effective community participation in development planning processes. Additionally, it will be beneficial to the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly, by recommending workable alternative strategies which can be adopted to encourage quality community participation in the development planning process. 1.5 Organisation of Study The study is organised into five chapters. Chapter One offers a background of the study, the problem statement, the objectives of the study and how it has been organised. Chapter Two entails a brief theoretical base and components of meaningful participation in development planning processes. A brief account on the tenets of decentralised planning in Ghana including spaces for community participation are discussed with highlights of the 2014-2017 Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly MTDP. The chapter also covers the conceptual framework for the study. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 9 Chapter Three has two sections, focusing first on the details of how the whole research was conducted. It includes the design, instruments and mode by which respondents were selected and how the data was managed. The second section entails a brief profile of the Awutu Senya East Municipality where the study was conducted. Chapter Four covers the findings of the research. This chapter discusses community knowledge of the medium-term development planning processes, education on community roles in such processes, strategies employed by the Municipal Assembly to encourage participation and the responsiveness of the 2014-2017 MTDP. The last chapter provides a summary of findings, conclusions, and implication for policy and development within the Awutu Senya East Municipality, with some recommendations made based on findings. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 10 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Introduction This chapter reviews the existing relevant literature on participation and decentralised development planning. It is organised in two main sections. The first section broadly discusses the perception of participation and the theoretical basis offered for understanding meaningful participation. It also presents the relevance and challenges of participation while highlighting the strategies that ensure effective participation. The second section focuses primarily on the decentralised development planning as pertains to Ghana in terms of structure, process and the roles of stakeholders. It also includes a brief review of Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly’s 2014-2017 MTDP and the conceptual framework. 2.1 Understanding Community Participation Community participation in diverse societal processes and programmes has been highly investigated globally and recognised as a sustainable development strategy (UNDP, 2014; Mansouri and Rao, 2013) Yet, its definition is highly contended in literature, as both community and participation are contested terms (De Souza, 2011) Amidst such contestations, Hillery (1955) defined a community as a group of people who share common interests, interact and live in a common place. Similarly, De Souza (2011) argues that in the traditional sense, communities are characterised by similar culture, language, geography and legal systems. But De Wit (2003) contends that this is not always the case as no community has a harmonious and homogenous set of people. He posits that the poor and rich though may reside in the same area, actually live in different University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 11 worlds as per their experiences. In this regard, community as used in this study implies a group of people who share common interests, interact and live in a common place with their diverse homogeneous and heterogeneous characteristics (De Souza, 2011; De Wit, 2003). Participation is also described by the United Nations as a means in which all members of a community make opportunities, contribute, influence and share equally (United Nations 1981 in Varkal, 2010). The World Bank also defines community participation as “a process through which stakeholders’ influence and share control over development initiatives, decisions and resources that affect them” (World Bank, 1994:1). In these and several definitions, there is some implicit assumption of an existing capacity of community members to influence decisions which concerns them (World Bank, 2001; Aycrigg, 1998). However, Brager et al. (1987) noted the relevance of the capacity of participants prior to participation. They therefore posit that participation should be defined as a way of educating people and building their capacity as a means of aiding them to influence decisions which affect their lives and also transfer political power to the grassroots. Augur (1945) consents to this view and asserts that this produces an awakened public. Regardless of this, there is consensus to a greater extent that participation is a developmental prerequisite and must of necessity be a process and not a one-off activity (Edgerton et al., 2000; Paul, 1987). Considering these contentions and similarities of both terms, community participation as used in this study refers to the involvement of informed persons (with their inherent homogeneous and heterogonous traits) living in a University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 12 geographical defined area in the initiation of development initiatives aimed at improving their well-being. 2.2 Relevance of Community Participation Different authors in different ways establish the importance of community participation. Mathur (1986) argues that the essence of participation is primarily to develop the potential of people to make informed development decision and actions. Lisk (1985) contends that the real impact of participation can be achieved in the planning system. In a much broader sense, participation maximises efficiency, effectiveness, self-reliance and sustainability of projects (Mpolokeng, 2003). Accounts from a study in Rufiji District (Tanzania) mirror the benefits, as intentional involvement of community members substantially improved road networks, education infrastructure, health infrastructure and livelihood trainings for youth (Wema, 2000). Thomas (1995) accounts that proper evaluation of community needs, conditions and attitudes are critical to the success or failure of development projects and programmes and this can be properly achieved through participation. Olujimi and Egunjobi (1991) similarly argue that community participation leads to clear identification of what a community really needs and how it can be provided, resulting in community acceptance for projects and programme. Oakley (1991) further consents that such information flow minimises the possibility of conflicts and waste of scarce resources. The case of the Tanzania Social Action Fund initiative evidentially supports this fact. Due to this project’s demand of thorough community involvement in planning, implementation and monitoring of initiatives, Wema (2000) observed that it provided the opportunity for residents to choose projects which were “most beneficial” to them (Wema, 2000:33). University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 13 Consequently, accessibility was improved due to construction of roads linking remote village production to market places, improved school education and health infrastructure through construction of new primary and secondary school blocks and health dispensaries. Paul (1987) also shares the view that participation improves service delivery by promoting cooperation, building consensus and interactions between project beneficiaries and implementing agencies by reducing delays and minimizing costs. Thus, community participation serves as a catalyst for further development and inculcating the sense of civic responsibility (Golooba-Mutebi, 2004). Project outcomes can effectively meet the specific needs and constraints of communities when local knowledge, skill and resources are incorporated. Paul (1987) refers to this as co-production, such that the required needs are provided in collaboration with beneficiaries (Paul, 1987; Oakley, 1991). This view is succinctly articulated by Salmen (1987) who posited that the well-being of people can be effectively achieved when beneficiary views are duly incorporated in the period of planning initiatives and intervention. Thomas (1995) also argues that in many instances, community participation is motivated by acceptance that it is a prerequisite to successful implementation. In-depth community participation serves as learning process which builds local capacity. This is because informed and involved community members become experts, who progressively understand technical difficult situations and holistically initiate actions to solve such problems (Thomas, 1995). On the other hand, it educates local authorities in community positions on issues (Thomas, 1995). Thus, purposeful community University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 14 participation in initiating and implementing development programmes and projects is highly beneficial. 2.3 Participation Typologies Several postulates depicting the extent of participation in development processes including planning of programmes and projects exist in literature and serve as useful reference points for understanding the extent of participation (Garau, 2012; Cornwall, 2008). One of the earliest and widely known is Sherry Arnstein’s (1969) ladder of participation. Arnstein’s ladder of participation is considered particularly important for its clear presentation of different levels of participation based on eight (8) hierarchical rungs of a ladder, by depicting significantly the extent of community non-participation to full participation as shown in Figure 2.1 (Arnstein, 1969) University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 15 Figure 2.1: Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation 8 Citizen Control Citizens Power 7 Delegated Power 6 Partnership 5 Placation Tokenism 4 Consultation 3 Informing Non-Participation 2 Therapy 1 Manipulation Source: Arnstein (1969) The bottom rungs of Arnstein’s ladder as illustrated in Figure 2.1 are (1) Manipulation and (2) Therapy, described categorically as levels of "non-participation" but exist as substitutes for genuine participation. At these levels, the intention is not to encourage people to participate in planning of community initiatives and projects since power holders control all the decision-making process decisions and participants play passive roles (Arnstein, 1969; Cornwall, 2008). Arnstein (1969) further argues that Rungs 3, 4 and 5 (informing, consultation and placation respectively) are tokenistic, in that people do not have much influence on the decisions which are made. Comparatively, these levels offer people some opportunity to University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 16 voice their concerns. (Arnstein, 1969; Varkal, 2010). Varkal (2010) argues that if participation is limited to these levels, there is no proper involvement as participants’ views are not guaranteed to be included in the final decisions made. Arnstein’s (1969) ladder recognises full participation at the top of the ladder, categorised as citizen power, where community members have power to influence the decisions made. She argues that people enter into partnerships which give them the power to deliberate and engage with local authorities, as denoted by (7) Delegated Power and (8) Citizen Control (Arnstein, 1969) Despite the contemporary relevance of Arnstein’s work, there are some limitations. The levels as depicted by the rungs show very broad categories and within each category, there could be a wide range of experiences. For instance, at the informing level, the type, quality and timing of information provided are highly significant. Connor (1988) further argues that citizens’ power as expressed by Arnstein’s (1969) rungs is not clearly and visibly distributed, and does not show any logical progression from one level to the other. Several other typologies have been developed after Arnstein’s (1969) ladder by researchers, to reveal what meaningful participation should connote (Connor 1988; Wiedemann and Femer, 1993; Wilcox, 1994; Dorcey et al., 1994; Jackson, 2001 & Garau, 2012). These typologies are based on some specific orientations and are often labelled forms, levels, matrix and spectrums of participation. Such leanings seemingly portray different objectives in relation to participation hence no particular typology is sufficiently comprehensive. However, depending on the particular objectives, one can adopt a relatively fit typology. The study does not seek per its objectives to focus on University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 17 general descriptions and critiques of these typologies. A brief summary of some of these typologies are as shown in Table 2.1 (Schlossberg and Shufford, 2005). Table 2.1: Summary of Some Participation Typologies and Their Orientations Source: Schlossberg and Shufford, 2005 Among these typologies, the model offered by Dorcey et al. (1994) is more closely linked to participation in planning processes (Cowan, 2013). A related offshoot of the participation in planning typology, developed based on Dorcey et al. (1994) typology is Jackson’s (2001) stages of public involvement which is adapted for this study. 2.3.1 Jackson’s Model of Participation This model consists of five stages of involvement, preceded by stakeholder identification and analysis. The five stages are informing, public education, testing reactions, seeking ideas and alternative solutions and seeking consensus (Jackson, 2001). The Informing stage involves creating awareness to generate stakeholders’ interest in the process. This requires the use of appropriate strategies to reach all stakeholders (Jackson, 2001). Inappropriate publicity strategies are likely to result in low interest, disappointment due to low participation, waste of resources and waste of time (Varkal, Author Orientation Spectrum Arnstein Power orientation Manipulation → Citizen control Wiedemann and Femer Administrative orientation Education → joint decision making Conner Conflict resolution Education → prevention Dorcey et al. Planning process Inform → on-going participation University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 18 2010). But Jackson (2001) further asserts that this is appropriate for instances of introducing new projects or initiatives and keeping all stakeholders updated on processes (Jackson, 2001; Schlossberg and Shufford, 2005; Varkal, 2010). Ayee and Amponsah (2003) account that lack of information makes community members hesitate and indifferent to participation processes. The public education assumes that the public are aware of the process but require certain background information to make informed decisions or choices. Essentially, it is aimed at building the capacity of stakeholders to make informed decisions. Varkal (2010) aptly posits that the informing and education levels require creativity and innovation to reach all groups of stakeholders Jackson’s (2001) testing reactions stage involves ensuring that the informed participants reflect adequate representations of various stakeholder groups for sourcing relevant information. This ensures right decisions are made, especially when alternatives choices exists that require some trade-offs, thus tests the reaction of stakeholders to ideas. This level is therefore necessary for deliberations on the objectives especially prioritization (Jackson, 2001; Schlossberg and Shufford, 2005; Varkal 2010) The stage of seeking ideas also encompasses the need for some technical backing, by experts. According to Varkal (2010) this level involves a more open-ended interaction than mere testing of reactions hence differs in terms of the expertise required (Jackson, 2001; Schlossberg and Shufford, 2005, Varkal 2010) University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 19 The final level (seeking consensus stage) is conceived by Jackson as periods when stakeholders are well informed, highly committed, believe in the process and are ready to share information based on trust. Essentially, it entails collaborative efforts targeted at assisting mandated authorities to provide the necessary solutions to problems. So, people do not defend sides but collaborate to find solutions (Jackson, 2001; Schlossberg and Shufford, 2005, Varkal 2010). Though this typology overlooks an obvious fact of power relations among planning stakeholders, it is the best fit for this study due to its overt planning orientation. 2.4 Strategies for Effective Participation A significant aspect of the participation discourse that researchers have enquired into has to do with the strategies that are employed to ensure that participation achieves its intended purpose (Blair, 2004; Burroughs, 1999). Blair (2004) for instance posits that this is necessary due to some sensitive and critical issues such as stakeholder identification, proper timing of the participation event, informing participants on issues, problems and opportunities as well as mobilizing resources for the actual participation events. Institutional barriers are deemed to put-off possible participants who may regard the local administrative systems as being complex (Burroughs, 1999; Blair, 2004). In a study of the local decentralised development in Romania, Badea (2005) found that only 20 percent of residents knew about the activities of the local councils (decentralised development body) and close to half of the respondents (46%) indicated that they were not familiar with any activity organised by any local council. Accordingly, he concluded that “this lack of information is doubled by the feeling that the common people have nothing to do with the decision-making process and can by no means influence the direction their community follows” (Badea, 2005:39). University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 20 However, when a Neighbourhood Consultative Council approach which was intentional to reach and involve community members were adopted from Mullhouse – a town with which Timisoara had some social contact in France - in 2003, community avenues for participation were enhanced as they served as linkages between the municipal authority and residents (Badea, 2005). This emphasises that community participation in planning processes must be purposely designed, and its success critically hinges on collaboration with other civic organisations and lessons of best practices in other countries. Participation strategies can therefore make or mar the participation process and must be carefully and sensitively selected (Burroughs 1999). Burroughs (1999) succinctly commented that facilitators must appropriately match participation strategies to the aim and nature of the issues considered (Burroughs, 1999). To this end, the literature shows diverse approaches which can be broadly categorised into traditional and modern (Cowan, 2013). The reality of this case is evident by International Institute for Environment and Development (2004) study conducted in South Africa. A supposed proactive integrated development planning approach was pursued by South Africa, with massive restructuring of local authorities and demanded preparation of a five-year integrated development plans coupled with the establishment of Ward Committees as a mechanism for ensuring community involvement. Unlike the Timisoara Neighbourhood Consultative Council in Romania, International Institute for Environment and Development (2004) found that only a single workshop platform was provided even after the massive restructuring. Consequently, the process remained ineffective (International Institute for Environment and Development, 2004). University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 21 In view of these happenings, Cowan’s (2013) commentary which categorised public meetings, surveys, visioning exercises, open houses, focus group discussions and workshops as traditional methods which have been used globally over the years can be upheld. It is however worthy to note as that recent technological developments have resulted in proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICT) gadgets and relatively cheap internet access (Cowan, 2013). Although it is mostly used to disseminate information, its utilization as an avenue by local government institutions is rare but such strategies can complement the traditional methods. In all, participation strategies are evolving progressively alongside the dynamic nature of societies and requires the use of both interactive and collaborative methods (Cowan, 2013; Burroughs, 1999; Blair, 2004) 2.5 Challenges of Community Participation In as much as participation is highly beneficial in decentralised planning processes, it is not a magic bullet. It has some limitations and may not be proper for all situations (Khwaja, 2004). Khwaja (2004) for instance in a study conducted in Northern Pakistan found that the limitations of participation are reflected in instances where participants have conflicting positions and decisions have to be democratically made. This requires proper facilitation to ensure it does not serve as a disincentive for minority groups. This may be further exacerbated by the existence of different interest groups with diverse needs though resources to address these needs are limited. In effect, if it is not properly managed, it might result in conflicts. The study further found that community participation is good for making decisions which are non-technical in nature than technical. In effect he concluded that community University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 22 participation becomes burdensome when it is perceived as a cure-all pill for sustainable development. This is because technical decisions require expertise which may be beyond participants (Khwaja, 2004). Aguillar (1988) also noted by his study in Mexico that participation processes mostly fail to involve and motivate majority of people in particular local areas, by being biased towards the educated, politically aware individuals and the middle class. Aguillar (1988) further concluded that distance from settlements to the point where the participation event takes place also affects people’s willingness to participate in the planning processes. The cost of participatory planning is another challenging factor (Dorcey et al., 1994; Mansouri and Rao, 2013). This is mostly reflected in terms of financial inputs required for the main participation events and its time-consuming nature. 2.6. Decentralization and Development Planning Globally, many nations adopted decentralization as a means to making life better for its citizens in recognition of the trending arguments that efficiency and effectiveness can be achieved by involving communities in decision making processes (Mkpolokeng, 2003; Mansouri and Rao, 2013). To this end, most efforts aimed at improving decentralised processes are usually based on the assumption that local governance will be more responsive to the needs of the communities (Ahwoi, 2010). In Ghana, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies as decentralised institutions reflect such expectations. In literature, one can be easily confused by related decentralization terms such as de-concentration, delegation, and devolution and their University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 23 general contestations and agreement but this is not the focus of this study. However, it is necessary to mention that Ghana’s Public Administration reforms from the early 1980s shows an approach of decentralization with variations of devolution, de-concentration and delegation of power (Ahwoi, 2010). 2.6.1 Structure of Decentralization in Ghana The 1992 Constitution clearly outlines the decentralization system, with Article 35 (6) emphasizing the purpose as, enhancing democracy by decentralising the administrative and financial activities of government to the regional and district levels. By way of providing specific guidelines in accordance with the constitution, the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462)was enacted with other legislations which include; Local Government (Urban, Zonal and Town Councils and Unit Committees) Establishment Instrument of 1994 (L.I. 1589), Civil Service Law of 1993 (PNDC Law 327), District Assemblies Common Fund Act of 2003 (Act 455), National Development Planning (System) Act of 1994 (Act 480) and the Local Government Service Act of 2003 (Act 656) (Ahwoi, 2010; Maple Consult, 2010; Mpare, 2007; Mpere, 2012). Generally, the local government structure as per these regulations for planning and public administration has three levels as shown in Figure 2.2: regional, district and sub-district level institutions (Botchie, 2000; Mpare, 2007; Maple Consult, 2010). Regional Coordinating Councils are tasked with coordination, harmonization, monitoring and evaluation of the activities of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies at the regional level. As per the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act, 462), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are also politically vested with, legislative, development planning and implementation responsibilities. The sub-structures at University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 24 metropolitan, municipal and district levels like the sub metro district councils, urban councils, zonal councils, town councils, area councils are also to perform supporting local community and grassroots planning and management functions within the particular local government areas where they are located (Maple Consult, 2010; Asante et al., 2014). in Ghanacture StruGovernment Local :Figure 2.2 Source: Institute of Local Government Studies, 2008 2.6.2 Decentralised Development Planning Historically, development planning in Ghana can be traced from the early 1920s when the first Ten-Year Development Plan (1920-1930) was developed during the colonial era of Governor, Sir Gordon Guggisberg. This has continued after independence with an initial 7-Year Development Plan (1963-1970) during the period of Nkrumah’s leadership. METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLIES REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL TOWN COUNCILS SUB-METRO DISTRICT COUNCILS UNIT COMMITTEES MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLIES DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES ZONAL COUNCILS URBAN/AREA/TOWN COUNCILS University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 25 Between 1940 and 1960, more than ten plans were prepared by Government bureaucrats with highly centralised processes hence limited the broad participation of stakeholders and beneficiaries (Tandoh-Offin, 2013; GSGDA, 2010). The explicit requirement of community participation in development frameworks and decentralised development planning processes shows the extent to which Ghana extols participation in recent times (GPRS I 2003-2005; GPRS II 2006-2009; GSGDA I & II , 2009-2015). The National Development Planning (System) Act of 1994, Act 480 mandates the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as national body for the coordination of the decentralised planning system. Accordingly, Act 479 and 480 of National Development Planning (System) Act makes NDPC responsible for preparation of the national development plans. The NDPC also provides guidelines to MDAs and MMDAs for the preparation of sector plans and Municipal Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) respectively (Agyemang, 2010; Maple Consult, 2010). Specifically, Section 1 of the National Development Planning (System) Act 1994 (Act 480) deals with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in terms of guidelines with the aim of providing focus and direction on development priorities of the nation. The guidelines also “facilitate harmonisation and rationalisation of development programmes, projects and activities initiated from the community, district and national levels” (NDPC, 2013: i) Act 480 also makes provision for the establishment and membership of Municipal Planning Coordinating Units (MPCUs) and the Regional Planning Coordinating Units (RPCUs) with roles and responsibilities. Primarily, these legislations and guidelines aim University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 26 at widening participation in the decision-making processes, particularly planning, at all levels of society (NDPC, 2013; Maple Consult, 2010) 2.6.3 Process of Decentralised Development Planning and Spaces for Participation Essentially, development planning process at district level is expected to commence with awareness creation and public education, followed by the identification of problems and determination of the needs and aspiration from the unit committee level through the Urban/Area/Zonal Council to the MMDAs. It is also expected that this will be done in strong collaboration with the sub-district structure of the Assembly (NDPC, 2013). The plans from the sub-district structures together with the plans of the decentralised departments and functional agencies are thereafter synthesised (Agyemang, 2010; Maple Consult, 2010).In all, spaces for community participation include the appraisal (review of previous plan) phase, planning workshops (needs assessment) and public hearings and feedback sessions (Mpere, 2012). These processes are required to be coordinated by the Municipal Planning Co-ordination Unit (MPCU) in collaboration with members of the MMDAs. 2.6.4 Role of the Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit The MPCU is mandated to coordinate the planning functions as prescribed by National Development Planning (System) Act, 1994, (Act 480), the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462) and the Civil Service Law, 1993, PNDC Law 327. Primarily, it is to lead the whole planning process by serving as a secretariat for planning activities while providing technical support to stakeholders. The MPCU is also responsible for providing adequate information and stakeholders’ sensitization on the MTDP process and organizing public hearings (NDPC, 2013). Debrah (2003) however noted for instance that a key factor of University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 27 exclusion in local participation process is information asymmetry. Thus, knowledge of the MTDP and its preparation is key for the involvement of communities in the process. 2.6.5 Role of Municipal Assembly (MA) and Sub-District Structure Members As per MDTP guidelines, members of the MAs and the sub-district levels have the responsibility of participating fully in the data collection and public hearing meetings; mobilising community members to support the planning exercise by sharing information and providing data on development issues in their localities. They are also required to facilitate the needs assessment dialogue meetings and workshops and finally adopt the final plan for implementation (Botchie, 2000; NDPC, 2013). As the basic unit of making decisions, they have the additional responsibility of educating the community members on development planning and implementation issues as well as collecting relevant data for updating the local level records. Ayee and Amponsah (2003) particularly noted that the sub-district structures as per their mandate are intended to enhance community participation to aid development processes, as initiators of development processes. The assembly members who form part of the unit committee also serve as links between the various communities and the Municipal Assembly (Maple Consult, 2010). Ayee and Amponsah (2000) further found that such duties are underperformed due to lack of both human and financial resources as work of the sub-district members is largely voluntary. Ayee and Amponsah (2003) further noted complaints of sub-district structure on general community growing apathy, evident in low attendance of meetings. However, community participation is advocated by most scholars on the basis that its benefits are more than the costs (Mansouri and Rao, 2013). University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 28 2.6.6 Participation in Public Hearings Events To ensure effective community participation, the MTDP guideline further provides some specific strategies for involving communities including public hearing events. Against the backdrop of limited resources, the MPCU is expected to organise at least three major public hearing events (two major and one minor). The relevance of the public hearing events is aptly noted in the guideline as “very critical to community participation and to the planning process, representing “official climax of community participation activities at the grassroots. It is therefore the responsibility of the Municipal Planning Authority to organise public hearings as a formal activity during the planning process”. (NDPC, 2013:37). The Guideline further reckons that such events will further serve as a means of sensitizing “the people about their Districts, and also solicit their views and proposals on what the Plan should include in terms of priority programmes, projects and activities to solve the existing problems during the plan period” (NDPC, 2013:38). The key elements emphasised to ensure effectiveness include ensuring stakeholder representativeness, prior notification and information provision, proper timing and location, gender equity and use of common language suitable for participants (NPDC, 2013). University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 29 2.7 Summary of Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly MTDP The 2014-2017 MTDP of the municipality was finalised in the last quarter of 2014. A summary of the process per the municipal plan presented at the final public hearing is as follows;  Review of 2009-2013 plan  Data collection through questionnaire administration (Municipality Departments, Non-Departments (Service Providers), Assembly Members)  Diagnostic Workshops in six (6) Zonal Councils  Data Analysis  Public Hearing (ASEMA, 2014) The outcomes of the entire planning process are shown in the Table 2.2. This will form the basis for assessing the responsiveness of the 2014-2017 MTDP which is meant to guide development in the municipality. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 30 Table 2.2: Zonal Rankings of Community Needs Source: ASEMA, 2014 PROBLEMS RANKING OF DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS BY ZONAL COUNCIL TOTAL RANK AKWELEY OFAAKOR OPEIKUMA WALANTU KASOA KPORMETEY Poor Environmental Sanitation 4 6 4 6 3 7 30 6 th Lack of Potable Drinking Water 2 1 1 2 7 4 17 2 nd Inadequate Health Facilities 8 3 8 8 5 5 37 7 th Youth Unemployment 7 8 7 5 8 8 43 8 th Poor Security/Lack of Street Light 5 4 6 3 2 3 23 3 rd Poor Land use Planning(No Proper Layouts/) 3 7 5 7 6 1 29 5 th Inadequate Access to Educational Facilities 6 5 3 4 4 6 28 4 th Poor Access Roads/Encroachment/Drainage 1 2 2 1 1 2 9 1 st University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 31 2.8 Conceptual Framework Conceptually, it can be deduced that participation in decentralised development planning processes are of great importance for designing responsive initiatives to improve the well- being of people within a particular local government area. The literature accounts therefore highlight the following as critical elements for participation in the planning process to be meaningful and hence address the needs and aspirations of the local people (see Figure 2.3). Information and Education (sensitisation) of Stakeholders Stakeholders within the Awutu Senya East Municipality can participate effectively if they have adequate knowledge of the Medium-Term development planning processes and are well sensitised on their roles. Information provided should be relevant, accurate and timely. Prior information and education will enhance participants understanding and desire to participate in the process. This must not be a one-off activity but an on-going process to sustain participants’ interest in the process (Jackson 2001; Dalton, 2005; Marzuki, 2009). Appropriate Implementation of Strategies by MPCU Sensitization and provision of relevant information is necessary but not sufficient. The strategies used in the whole process must also be effective. The approaches used must provide ample notification, select appropriate venues and time for meetings, resource participants with the necessary materials and target a broad range of stakeholders. Appropriate information and education delivery channels suitable to various participants must also be used. The relevance of mass media particularly community radio is crucial due to its effectiveness to deliver information in terms of timeliness and reach (Amponsah, 2003). The process must also be transparent to encourage fair and open dialogue and guarantee that University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 32 participants’ inputs will influence the decision of the final plan. This will also build trust for further collaboration and consultation (Dalton 2005; Marzuki, 2009). Effective Technical support by MPCU Though local government officials (MPCU) are required to facilitate the medium-term development planning process, they are also to provide technical support to participants to enable them make informed decisions. It is therefore necessary that they perform their role effectively and efficiently. Experienced facilitation skills are also necessary for mediating decision-making processes to build consensus for progressive deliberations. When these conditions are appropriately implemented, deliberations among stakeholders will be effective, resulting in the designing of responsive plans. This will then form a good foundation for the development initiatives implemented and consequently improve the living standards of people within the municipality as illustrated in Figure 2.3. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 33 Figure 2.3: Conceptual Framework Municipal Assembly Structure (MPCU) District Sub-Structure and Communities Community Sensitization on DMTDP process Information Sharing Informed Community (Participants) Effective Deliberations on Development Issues (Problems & Opportunities) with Technical Support from MPCU Responsive MTDP based on Informed Decisions Effective Involvement Strategies Proper Consultation timing Improved Well-Being Author’s Construct, 2015 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 34 2.9 Summary It is clear that though community participation has no globally accepted definition, its relevance cannot be over-emphasised. Several typologies aimed at presenting models to aid the conceptualization of what meaningful (extent of) participation should entail, abound in literature (Arnstein 1969; Dorcey et al., 1994; Garau, 2012). However, each typology has its own orientation but commonly indicates that, participation has certain enablers and constraints and hinges critically on the roles of both community members and the institutional body mandated to induce participation (Blair, 2004). The literature shows that information and education are essential to the success of the participation process. This is underscored theoretically by Jackson’s (2001) argument that information and education are necessary preliminary steps of the participation process and must be sustained for on-going collaboration in the long run. Badea (2005) consents that this promotes trust and enhance cooperation between stakeholders and local authorities. The MTDP Guidelines accordingly require the MPCU to sensitise community members on the MTDP process. Similarly, the Guideline specifically requires the development of a District communication plan for information dissemination and education of stakeholders on their roles. It is also clear that regulations are not sufficient. The responsiveness largely depends also on the strategies adopted to ensure issues are gathered from the perspectives of the communities as clearly outlined in the guidelines. Hence, the guideline provides that as much as possible, MMDAs are to facilitate the drafting of community plans using appropriate guidelines as provided in by the NDPC and the National Community Development Guideline. This summarily includes; integrity and accountability, fair notice and time, inclusiveness and University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 35 adequate representation, fair and open dialogue, multiple appropriate techniques for information dissemination and collection, adequate and accessible information, resourced participants as well as early and on-going participation (NDPC, 2013; Stewart, 2005). Finally, consensus on all needs and aspirations of the communities are prioritised through adequate consultations through proper issues identification and prioritization. The guidelines underscore this by encouraging the organisation of series of public participation events. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 36 CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.0 Introduction This chapter entails two sections which mainly describe methods employed to address the research questions and an overview of the study area. The first section mainly describes the whole design to establish the suitability of the selected approach. It elaborates on processes including techniques used to select respondents, instruments employed to collect data and how the data collected was managed in terms of processing and analysis to provide answers to the research questions. The second section entails an overview of main features of the Awutu Senya East Municipality where the study was conducted. 3.1. Research Design Ordinarily, quantitative and qualitative methodologies are the two major approaches to conducting research (Kothari, 2004). Though both approaches are noted to have some limitations, recent studies tend to provide better insight of phenomena studied by combining the two for sound investigation and analysis (Sanyare, 2013; Ivankova, 2002; Tashakkori & Teddlie, 2003). The study therefore employed the mixed method approach to collect and provide in-depth analysis. The main strategy used was the case study approach. The suitability of this method to such a study is noted in literature. Bromley (1990) argues that case study helps to systematically describe phenomena of interest. Accordingly, this approach was used to unearth how MTDP is developed in practice in ASEMA, in comparison with the actual process as outlined in the MTDP guidelines. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 37 Yin (2009) similarly noted that a case study research method helps to empirically investigate contemporary phenomenon within its real life context with evidence from multiple sources. The study utilises diverse sources of data to ensure accurate verification of data collected. For the purpose of showing the extent of community participation, the limitation of the case study method is reduced by the use of mixed method design to collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data. This is due to the fact that neither the quantitative nor qualitative method is entirely adequate for assessing community participation in a decentralised planning process. The quantitative aspect was useful in determining the extent of the consultation in MTDP preparation processes as pertains in the Awutu Senya East Municipality. The qualitative aspect of this research also provided great insights in investigating the in-depth issues surrounding community participation in the MTDP process by analysing responses, guidelines and detailed experiences of respondents (Creswell, 1998). 3.2 Data Sources The study employed both primary and secondary data. Most of the secondary data used are published and unpublished relevant literature. It mainly includes relevant articles, journals, books, research papers, institutional guidelines and documents and relevant existing documents of the MTDP preparation process in the municipality. Primary data was collected from the Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit (MPCU), Assembly members, Zonal Council representatives, Unit Committee members, other key stakeholders and the general community members. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 38 3.3 Sample Size Considering the broad range of stakeholders who legally have rights to participate in the decentralised development planning processes as detailed by the MTDP guideline, the sampling technique and sample size became highly critical for this case study. Marshal et al. (2013) examined some studies in leading journals and found that there is little rigidity in the justification of samples selected for qualitative studies, evident by the variations in the range of sample sizes. Following this finding of the subjectivity in determining sample sizes, they recommended that case studies should contain 15 to 30 cases ideally. However, for the purpose of the quantitative aspect of the study, a total of 120 respondents were selected to be able to make meaningfully presentations with frequencies to ascertain the extent to which requirements of the process at various levels are followed. It is worthy to note that Awutu Senya East as a new municipality has challenges in terms of data availability (Annual Progress Report, 2013). However, considering the fact that MTDP preparation processes in the municipality was initiated at the zonal council level, this offered a good basis to select similar proportions from the zones, since zonal councils in Ghana are established for a population of about 3000 people (Ayee, 2000). 3.4 Sampling Techniques The study employed various techniques to select respondents for the study. The municipality was purposively clustered into sparsely-populated zonal areas mainly in the middle and north of the municipality (Opeikuma, Ofaakor and Akweley) and the densely-populated parts (Kasoa, Walantu and Kpormotey Zonal Areas) in the south. For instance, Kasoa had a population of 69,384 while Akweley and Ofaakor have a cumulative population of 27, 943 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 39 (Akweley - 15,840 and Ofaakor - 12,943) (GSS, 2014). Thereafter, two zonal councils (Walantu and Kpormortey) were randomly selected from the densely-populated areas while one zonal council area (Opeikuma) was randomly selected from the sparsely-populated area as shown in Table 3.1. Subsequently, a simple random sampling procedure was employed to select four communities from each selected zonal area. Table 3.1: Details of Sampled Zones, Communities and Respondents Zonal Area Number of Communities List of Selected Communities Respondents Kpormortey 18 Adam Nana, Zone 6, Ghana Flag, Songai 40 Opeikuma 12 Adakope, Estate Down, American Town, Diamond City 40 Walantu 18 CP, Walantu, Top Hill, Little Rock 40 120 List of In-depth Interviewees Institutional Respondents Municipal Planning Officer 1 Municipal Education Director 1 Municipal Works Engineer 1 Community Representatives Assembly Members 2 Unit Committee Members 3 Zonal Council Member 1 Other Stakeholder Representatives Non-Governmental Organisation 1 Political Party Representatives 2 Source: Author’s Construct Based on Data from ASEMA, 2013 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 40 Ten respondents were selected from each community in each zone. First respondents in each community were randomly selected and one respondent subsequently interviewed in every 10 th household as there was no available data from the Assembly. Community representatives and other societal group leaders (key stakeholders) were purposively selected from the participants’ list of the final public hearing meeting, to gather in-depth data on their experiences in the MTDP preparation process. They included two Assembly members, three Unit Committee members, one zonal council member, two political party representatives and one Non-Governmental Organisation representative. In-depth interviews were also held with three Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit members, who were selected purposively. To ensure gender balance, the only female member (the Municipal Education Director) was purposively selected in addition to the Municipal Planning Officer who serves as the secretary of the MPCU and the District Works Engineer. 3.5 Study Instruments and Data Collection Procedure The main instruments used were semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides (see appendixes A, B and C. The instruments developed were tested to achieve consistency and clarification of questions with eight respondents. Based on the pretesting, inapplicable options of responses were removed and respondents understanding of questions were well understood and rephrased. This ensured that questions were improved for the purpose of objectivity and data was collected within three weeks. The semi-structured questionnaires were administered on general residents randomly selected from the four communities. The four communities selected in each zone were manually University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 41 drawn by numbering the communities and randomly drawing without replacement from the list of communities obtained from ASEMA. This represents a quarter of the communities under the selected zonal council areas (12 out of 48 communities). Ten respondents each were then selected from households within the selected communities. The questionnaires were mainly to solicit respondents’ knowledge and perception about the MTDP and its preparation process, perception of information concerning the MTDP, awareness of their roles in the MTDP preparation process and major community problems within their localities. In-depth interviews were held with interview guides and recorded. Prior to these interviews respondents were informed and convenient periods suitable to them were fixed. With the exception of the telephone interview conducted with the zonal council representative, all other interviews were done face to face. This ensured that the representations of the municipal Assembly (particularly MPCU-see Appendix D for list of members), community representatives and other stakeholders members of the MTDP preparation for comprehensive analysis and thereby provided the opportunity for comparative analyses from views of different stakeholders. 3.6 Data Processing and Analysis Considering the mixed method approach employed in this study, proper analysis was made through the application of appropriate data processing mechanisms. Quantitative data processing tools were used to process and analyse data with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21 while content analysis approach was used to analyse qualitative data and presented thematically under each objective. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 42 3.7 Ethical Issues The consent of participants was sought prior administrating questionnaires and a short briefing was given on the purpose of the study. Data collected were handled in a confidential manner. By an introductory letter from the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research, permission was sought from the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly prior to the research activities. Participants were assured they could end the interaction at any point without any coercion. Thus, all respondents willingly participated in the study. 3.8 Profile of Awutu Senya East Municipality This section details the features of the Awutu Senya East Municipality where the study was conducted. 3.8.1 General Background The Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly is one of the newly-created municipalities in the Central Region. The Municipality was carved out of the former Awutu Senya East District in 2012 and established as a Municipality by Legislative Instrument (LI) 2025. The rationale was to facilitate government’s decentralisation programmes and local governance system (MTDP, 2014). 3.8.2 Location and Size The Awutu Senya East Municipality is located in the Eastern part of the Central Region. It shares its eastern boundaries with Ga South Municipality (in the Greater Accra Region), Awutu Senya District in the North. The Municipality covers a total land area of about 108,004 square kilometres, which is 1.1 percent of the total land area of the Central Region. Kasoa, the municipal capital, is located at the south-eastern part, about 31 kilometres from University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 43 Accra, the national capital. The major settlements of the municipality are Opeikuma, Adam Nana, Kpormertey, Ofaakor, Akweley, Walantu and Zongo (GSS, 2014; MTDP, 2014). Figure 3.1: Map of Awutu Senya East Municipality Source: (MTDP, 2013) University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 44 3.8.3 Demographic Characteristics The people of the municipality are mainly Guans. There are other settler tribes of different ethnic backgrounds. These include the Gas, Akans, Ewes, Walas/Dagartis, Moshies, Basares and other numerous smaller tribes. Due to the cosmopolitan nature of the municipality, the main languages spoken are Akan and English (MTDP, 2014). In 2010, the total population of the municipality stood at 108,422 which is 4.9 percent of central region’s population. The male population is 48.1 percent while the female population is 51.9 percent of the total population of the district. The municipality’s population growth of three percent is higher than the national rate of 2.5 percent, which is an indication of fast urbanization (MTDP, 2014; GSS, 2013). 3.8.4 Political and Administrative Structure The municipality is headed by a municipal Chief Executive appointed by the President with approval by at least two-thirds of the Assembly Members. It has a presiding member who always chairs General Assembly meetings. There are twenty-two (22) Assembly Members with eight (8) being appointed and fourteen (14) elected. The municipality has six (6) zonal councils, namely: Kasoa, Ofaakor, Akweley, Opeikuma, Walantu, and Kpormetey as shown illustrated in Figure 3.2. It also has fourteen electoral areas and one constituency known as East Constituency. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 45 Figure 3.2: Local Government Structure in Awutu Senya East Muncipality Author’s Construct, 2015 3.8.5 Economy The main economic activities in the municipality include trading (wholesale/retail), agro- processing, informal sector service and commerce. Trading and its related activities are the leading economic ventures which, according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, employ about 35.7 percent of the working population in the municipality. Livestock production is also practised in the municipality but on a smaller scale (GSS, 2013). The private informal sector’s contribution is enormous. The sector employs 81.9 percent of the working population in the banking and service sectors but needs to be integrated with the formal sector. Other economic activities include: manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing, and transport services, among others (MTDP, 2014). Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly Akweley Zonal Council Ofaakor Zonal Council Kpormortey Zonal Council Kasoa Zonal Council Opeikuma Zonal Council Walantu Zonal Council Fourteen Unit Committees University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 46 3.8.6 Health Coverage of health services in the municipality is generally very low as available facilities are woefully inadequate. The highest level of health delivery system in the municipality is the private hospital. There are 15 health facilities located within the municipality. In spite of the existence of the above facilities, people in the municipality have serious problems with access to health services. This is due to the poor physical conditions of the roads in most parts of the municipality. This phenomenon has accounted significantly for the limited health facilities. Serious cases from the health facilities are either referred to the Winneba Hospital in the Effutu Municipality or Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra. The municipality is making efforts to improve health care delivery in all its communities (MTDP, 2014). 3.8.7 Education Education is in the municipality is mainly driven by the private sector. Though there are sixteen kindergartens, twenty one primary schools and seventeen junior high schools, the private sector has fifty three kindergartens, one hundred and forty seven primary schools, one hundred junior high schools, ten senior high schools, two technical and vocational schools and four tertiary institutions. There was however no available data on enrolment, teacher to pupil ratio and infrastructure. The lack of public schools in the municipality is likely to result in overcrowding in the few available schools. This will also affect quality of instruction and class control. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 47 CHAPTER FOUR DATA ANALYSIS 4.0 Introduction This chapter presents the analyses of data collected from the three selected zonal council areas within the Awutu Senya East Municipality in five sections. The first section considers socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and its implication for medium-term development planning. The second covers analyses of data on the community members’ knowledge and awareness of the MTDP and its preparation processes. The subsequent sections attempt to provide answers to the other three objectives on the role of community members in the MTDP preparation process, strategies employed by the Municipal Assembly to involve community members in the MTDP process and the assessment of the 2014-2017 MTDP responsiveness to community needs respectively. As indicated in the chapter three of this study, the data was collected from one hundred and twenty respondents with a semi-structured questionnaire from the three selected zonal council areas. In-depth interviews were held with three Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit members as institutional respondents, two Assembly Members, three Unit Committee Chairperson, one zonal council member and three key stakeholder group leaders. 4.1 Socio-demographic Characteristics As shown in Table 4.1, the sex distribution of respondents indicated a slight domination by women who were a little over half (50.8%). The age distribution of respondents also indicated that two-thirds of respondents (66.6%) were in their youthful age while 28.4 percent were adults aged between 36 years and 55 and five percent were above 55 years. The University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 48 data further indicated that cumulatively, about 94 percent of this population had basic education and 45 percent had at least secondary education. Table 4.1: Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 Respondents Characteristics Frequencies (%) Sex Males Females 59 61 49.2 50.8 Age 18-25 26-35 36-45 45-55 55+ 42 38 26 8 6 35.0 31.6 21.7 6.7 5.0 Education None Basic Secondary Tertiary 7 59 41 13 5.8 49.2 34.2 10.8 Ethnicity Asante Fanti Ga/Dangbe Ewe Other 24 46 16 23 11 20.0 38.3 13.3 19.2 9.2 Occupation Employed: Professional/technical/managerial Sales/services Skilled manual Unskilled manual Other Unemployed 15 27 48 19 7 4 12.5 22.5 40.0 15.8 5.8 3.3 Religious Affiliation Christians Muslims Traditionalists 84 35 1 70.0 29.2 0.8 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 49 The implication is that community members have basic education, dominated by energetic youth who can contribute meaningfully to development. It can also be inferred that the neglect of the youth from MTDP preparation is likely to result in low commitment to implementation of the designed solutions aimed at addressing community problems. This finding is consistent with the 2014 District Analytical Report claim that the population of the municipality is dominated by the youth (GSS, 2014). In terms of ethnicity, though natives within the municipality are mainly Guans, the sample indicated that majority (91.8%) of respondents were migrants. These migrant groups are also dominated by Fantis, Asantes, Ewes and Gas. This finding reflects the high proportion of migrants in the municipality, who constitute 78 percent of the total population in the Awutu Senya East Municipality (GSS, 2014). Mainly other respondents who indicated that they were Guans and Dagartis, cumulatively constituted 9.2 percent. Thus, the Guans who were natives are currently outnumbered by migrants. The indication is that the municipality has some features which attract migrants. Obviously, these features include the vibrant economic activities and its proximity to the choked national capital. This underscores the necessity of the need for responsive MTDPs to manage the problems associated with the high rate of migration and urbanization and thereby improve the general well-being of current and future residents. Respondents’ employment status indicated that majority (96.7%) of respondents were economically-active. This however is unsurprising as the municipality is well noted for its brisk informal business activity. Cumulatively, a larger proportion (78.3%) of the economically-active respondents was engaged in the informal sector-related employment. comprising of sales and services with skilled and unskilled manual workers. The University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 50 economically-active proportion also included 12.5 percent of respondents employed in the formal sector. This also suggests that the majority of residents in the municipality are tax and toll payers and should be involved in the decisions concerning how funds mobilised are utilised to improve their well-being. Thus, proper consultations in MTDP preparation process offers a good start point for building trust between community members and the local government institution. The data further indicated that 70 percent of respondents were Christians; while 29.2 percent were Muslims. This implies that residents within the municipality are highly religious. This can also be reckoned as an avenue for providing information and sensitization to the wider stakeholder groups for the purpose of inducing participation in MTDP preparation and education on civic responsibilities for sustainable community development. 4.2 Awareness of Medium-Term Development Planning Adequate information about planning processes is noted to induce participation (Jackson, 2001; Schlossberg and Shufford, 2005; Varkal, 2010). The 2014-2017 MTDP planning guideline also provides that after the Municipal Planning Co-ordinating Unit (MPCU) has been constituted, awareness on the planning process should be created among community members on the planning process and why they should participate (NDPC, 2013).Oronje et al. (2014) more aptly posited that the case of awareness creation prior to meaningful participation is basic logic. The data as depicted in Figure 4.1 indicated that two-thirds of respondents were aware that the Municipal Assembly is supposed to prepare some plan to guide development projects and University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 51 initiatives. However, majority of respondents (84.2%) were unaware of the nature of the MTDP and its preparation process. Figure 4.1: Community Knowledge of MTDP and its Preparation Process Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 Some key stakeholders and informants for instance commented similarly that: “I have never been invited to any of such meetings so I do not know much about the MTDP process and the period in which it is prepared but the Assembly member may know about it.” (Key Community interviewee, 2015) “We receive letters from the Municipal Assembly indicating when and where the MTDP meetings will be held. The letter also indicates the persons we should specifically invite from our electoral areas to attend the planning meetings. Actually, a lot of people do not know about it except those we invite.” (Community representative Interviewee, 2015) “The MTDP diagnostics workshops we held were at the zonal council level but this can further be extended to lower levels when adequate funding is available. We however expect Assembly members to inform and educate their constituents on the plan development process. Some Assembly Members are part of the Municipal Planning sub-committee and so we expect that they will provide information to their colleagues and their community members. I witnessed, on a visit to Ethiopia, that all communities have special notice boards which are well- constructed and glassed with roofing, situated in public places. Notices are periodically displayed on them to inform communities on activities of the local government institutions and we are thinking about doing something like that in the future but this come at a cost.” (Institutional Key Informant, 2015) Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Knowledge of Municipal Assembly Planning Mandate Knowledge of the process for developing MTDP P e rc e n ta ge o f R e sp o n d e n ts Yes No University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 52 The implication of this is that knowledge of the MTDP preparation process is the preserve of a few community representatives who know about it. This is consistent with Aguillar’s (1988) finding that the participatory planning process is often limited to persons who are politically aware. The lack of awareness of the general public is therefore a major contributing factor to their exclusion from the medium-term development planning process in the Awutu Senya East Municipality. This low level of awareness on MTDP and its preparation process among the general public had some significant depth, evident among people of all sex, age categories and zones. A Chi-Square test at a significant level of 5 percent resulted in p-values of 0.241 for respondents’ sex by their awareness of the planning process and 0.147 for respondents’ age category and awareness of the planning process. Thus, values were greater than 0.05 as shown is Table 4.2 and Table 4.3 respectively. Table 4.2: Knowledge of MTDP Preparation Process by Sex Knowledge about MTDP preparation process Sex Yes No Total Male 7 52 59 Female 12 49 61 Total 19 101 120 Test Statistics: Df=1, p-value = 0.241 > 0.05 Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 53 This implies that there is no statistically significant relationship between sex nor age category of respondents and their awareness of the planning process, though more women had knowledge about the process than men. Similarly, there was no difference in the level of knowledge on the planning process among youths and adults. Table 4.3: Knowledge of MTDP Preparation by Age Category Knowledge of MTDP preparation Age Category Yes No Total 18-25 3 39 42 26-35 6 32 38 36-45 8 18 26 46-55 1 7 8 55+ 1 5 6 Total 19 101 120 Test Statistics: Df=4 p value 0.0147 > 0.05 Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 More importantly, the results generally indicate low awareness of the MTDP and its preparation process for males and females as well as the old and young. Only about six percent of males and ten percent of females had knowledge about the MTD planning process with cumulative proportions of about eight percent of youth (aged between 18 and 35 years) and eight percent of adults (aged 36 years and beyond). A Chi-Square test for respondents’ zonal area and awareness of MTDP preparation process at 5 percent significant level as shown in Table 4.4also resulted in a p-value of 0.039. This University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 54 indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between respondents’ area of residence and knowledge about MTDP process. Respondents within the Opeikuma and Kpormortey zonal areas relatively reported more cases of low awareness on MTDP and its preparation processes though awareness was generally low in all zonal areas. Table 4.4: Knowledge of MTDP Preparation Process by Zonal Area Knowledge of MTDP Process Zonal Area Yes (Aware) No (Unaware) Opeikuma 5 35 Kpormortey 3 37 Walantu 11 29 Total 19 101 Test statistics: Df=2 and p-value of 0.039 < 0.05 Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 Two important departments whose mandates can be strategically employed especially at the local level to provide information are the Information Services Department and National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE). The Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly however does not have an Information Services Department and the 14-member MPCU team constituted, did not include any representative of the NCCE but co-opted the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) whose role has been well defined by the MTDP guideline (ASEMA, 2013). A key institutional informant accounted for instance that: Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 “I know there is no Information Services Department but there is a National Commission on Civic Education. In terms of medium-term development planning information dissemination, they were not involved.” (Institutional Respondent, 2015) University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 55 This possibly contributed to low publicity of the planning process as key information delivery departments were not involved. In effect, the data as depicted by Table 4.5indicated that only 12 respondents had been involved in the MDTP preparation process. Table 4.5: Have You Ever Been Involved in MTDP Preparation Process? Frequency Percentage Yes 12 10 No 108 90 Total 120 100 Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 Additionally, the general perception of respondents from the survey as presented by Table 4.6 further shows the extent to which community members lacked information about the MTDP and its preparation process. Majority (93.3%) of respondents posited that there is low knowledge on what the MTDP actually is. Over ninety percent of respondents also indicated that information on when the MTDP is prepared and who can be part of the plan preparation process was low. Table 4.6: Respondents’ Perception on Information About MDTP Source: Author’s Field Survey, May 2015 Very High (%) High (%) Low (%) Very low (%) Don’t Know (%) Knowledge of what the MTDP is 0.8 0.8 40.0 53.3 5.0 When is the MDTP prepared 0 2 31.7 60.0 6.7 Who can be part of the MTDP preparation process 0 3.3 29.2 61.7 5.8 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 56 The implication is that despite the low awareness of the MTDP preparation process among the general public, few community representatives are aware. The disparity in the awareness levels of among stakeholders further signifies clearly the exclusion of most community members from the MTDP preparation process. Thus participation in MTDP is limited to few sub-structure and community representative members of the communities 4.3 Community Role in Medium-Term Development Planning Process Early community involvement in planning proce