Abstract
Decentralisation of infrastructure delivery to sub-national governments has become commonplace in governments worldwide especially in developing countries such as Ghana. This is due to the benefits of decentralisation in improving public service delivery. However, decentralised infrastructure delivery is marred with numerous challenges that render most local governments incapable of providing infrastructure within their localities. This paper explored the bureaucratic factors that impede infrastructure delivery at the MMDAs in Ghana. A questionnaire survey with 121 construction professionals in the Departments of Works (DoWs) of the MMDAs within the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana was conducted. The results indicated six (6) major components of the bureaucratic factors that impede the delivery of infrastructure at the MMDAs: Central government bureaucracy; Minimal control of MMDAs; Political influence; MMDA project funding; Lack of capacity of MMDAs; and Political interference. This paper calls for a more committed central government to the establishment of adequate decentralised structures and implementation of major reforms that would remove the bureaucratic obstacles in the delivery of infrastructure at the MMDAs, to ensure effective infrastructure delivery at the MMDAs.
Highlights
IntroductionA major significance of decentralisation is the enhancement of the generation of revenue at the local level, provision of infrastructure, and ensuring the adequacy of resources provided to the local government
This paper explored the bureaucratic factors that impede infrastructure delivery at the MMDAs in Ghana
The results indicated six (6) major components of the bureaucratic factors that impede the delivery of infrastructure at the MMDAs: Central government bureaucracy; Minimal control of MMDAs; Political influence; MMDA project funding; Lack of capacity of MMDAs; and Political interference
Summary
A major significance of decentralisation is the enhancement of the generation of revenue at the local level, provision of infrastructure, and ensuring the adequacy of resources provided to the local government. Experts in decentralisation believe that local governments can aid in the provision of infrastructure and reduction of poverty if they are provided with adequate resources. Decentralisation of infrastructure delivery to sub-national governments has become a worldwide trend for governments, especially in developing countries like Ghana [3]. This is because the quantity and quality of infrastructure needed to propel rapid economic development are absent in most developing African countries [4]. Decentralisation of infrastructure delivery at the local government levels is faced with numerous challenges that cripple the efforts of local governments in their delivery of infrastructure [7]
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