The Rhetoric and Reality of Development Planning for Rural Development in Ghana: The Case of East Gonja District in Northern Ghana

Abstract

This study examines the preparation and implementation of the District Medium Term Development Plans in four sub-district structures in the East Gonja District to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the planning process as established by laws and regulations. Using qualitative approaches of focus group discussions, interviews and documentary analysis the study reveals that the process of development planning was not participatory and was short-circuited. This therefore renders the District Medium Term Development Plans ineffective and less responsive to the needs of the people and/or the communities in the district. Also, the sub-district structures, though operational, were ineffective as a result of low revenue generated from the low-economic activities in the district coupled with the delay of the release of and the inadequacy of the District Assemblies Common Funds (DACF). No doubt, the challenge of resource constraint for effective planning is evident. There is therefore the need for a deliberate policy strategy towards establishing an insulated fund to support development planning at the district level.