Abstract
Conventional community development strategies have focused on the importance of physical, natural, financial, and human capitals. In spite of the emphasis on these in the pursuit of development, a number of community development problems persist. Given the huge evidence that social capital matters in community development efforts, it appears that the missing link in community development is social capital. Yet this has not been adequately explored. This paper explores the role of social capital in the community development planning process. Comparative case study design was used. Two rural communities were selected from the Ejisu-Juaben Municipal Area for in-depth study. Interviews were conducted with the principal and assistant Municipal Planning officers and two Principal Community Development Officers from the Municipal Assemblies and the traditional leaders of both communities. Assembly members were used as key informants. Focus group discussions were held with community groups. Forty respondents were randomly selected at the household level and interviewed. The analysis focused on social networks, trust, civic engagement and social norms. It was found that social capital could facilitate the community development planning process by promoting the participation of community members in community activities, increase their ability to work together and engender overall development. There is a correlation between community development and the level of social capital. The paper recommends that development planning at the sub-national levels can be more responsive if it utilizes networks and social ties in the preparation and implementation of plans.Keywords: Social Capital, Development, Planning, Ghana, Participation
Highlights
Planning is a process of reflection that guides actions
This paper argues that social capital has a huge promise in facilitating community development planning in Africa
This definition is informed by many community development scholars who claim that communities with a good stock of social capital are more likely to develop; and this will manifest in lower crime figures, better health, higher educational achievement, and better economic growth (Coleman 1988; Putnam et al, 1993)
Summary
Planning is a process of reflection that guides actions. As noted by Kent (1981: 1), ‘planning means deliberate systematic efforts designed to guide future decisions and action.’ Planning helps communities create their preferred future (Litman, 2013). The low level of interest and commitment among community members have contributed to a breakdown of community initiatives as well as weak support for externally driven development initiatives To this end MacLaran et al (2007) assert that everything necessary is done to promote the participation of communities in the process of community development planning. Social capital has been used here to mean a social resource developed through networks of people, relationships of trust and reciprocity together with social norms that enable social organisations to act together to pursue common objectives This definition is informed by many community development scholars who claim that communities with a good stock of social capital are more likely to develop; and this will manifest in lower crime figures, better health, higher educational achievement, and better economic growth (Coleman 1988; Putnam et al, 1993). Social capital has been credited with a range of potential beneficial effects including effectiveness of formal institutions (Dhesi, 2000), economic development (Putnam et al, 1993), public health (Erikkson, 2010; Hawe & Shiell, 2000), education (Coleman, 1988) and rural development (Wiesinger, 2007)
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