COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 459: DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Department of Political Science

University of Ghana, Legon

1^st Semester, 2014/2015

Lecturer: Emmanuel Debrah (PhD.)

COURSE TITLE	DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
COURSE CODE	POLI 459
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES	The emphasis on governance at the grassroots/local level has given impetus to local government administration. Ghana’s experience with local government administration predates colonial rule, but since independence local government has become an important component of the developmental process. The course begins by exploring generic concepts of decentralization as analytical tools to explain the significance of local government administration in Ghana. It delineates the various facets of Ghana’s local government administration and configures their impact on the development process. It also identifies and explains the obstacles that impair local government administration and recommends measures to overcome them. Upon completion of this course students should be able to: State and explain concepts of decentralization and local Government. Delineate the historical trajectories of Local Government Administration in Ghana. Distinguish between Central-Local Government Relations in Ghana. Outline the structure, function and operations of district assemblies in the 4th Republic.
WEEK NO.	Date	Lecture Course	Tutorials
1-3	08/09/2014 15/09/2014 22/09/2014	Conceptualizing Decentralization and Local Government	What is decentralization & local govt?
4	29/09/2014	Central-Local Government Relations in Ghana	Outline and discuss areas of relationship b/n the two bodies
5-6	13/08/2014 20/08/2014	Historical Trajectories of Local Government Administration in Ghana	Trace evolution of decentralization reform in Ghana
7-8	27/08/2014 04/09/2014	Chieftaincy and Local Government in Ghana	Discuss the role of chiefs in local govt. Admin. in Ghana
9-11	11/09/2014 18/09/2014 25/09/2014	Local Government Experience in the 4th Republic: District Assemblies – Structure, Functions & Performance Assessment	Identify and discuss the nature , functions and operations of the DAs
12-13	06/11/2014 13/11/2014	Local Government Financing in Ghana – Source of Revenue, Budget, uses and constraints	Appraise fiscal decentralization in Ghana
READING LIST: Ayee, J. R. A (1999) Decentralization and Conflict: The case of District Chief Executives and Members of Parliament in Ghana Accra: Friedrich Ebert Foundation. *Ayee, J.R.A (1994) Anatomy of Public Policy Implementation, Aldershot, England. *Philip Mawhood (ed.) Local Government in the Third World: The Experience of Decentralization in Tropical Africa, African Institute of South Africa, 1993. Ronald Wraith, Local Administration in West Africa, Africana Publishing Corporation, NY, 1972. Mike Oquaye, “Decentralization and Development:  The Ghanaian Case Under the PNDC”, Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, Vol.33, No.2, July 1995, pp.209-239. *K. Boafo-Arthur, ‘Chieftaincy in Ghana: The Challenges and Prospects in the 21st Century’, Africa and Asian Studies, 2, (2) 2003, pp. 1-16. *Paul Nugent Africa Since Independence: A Comparative History Palgrave MaCmillan, New York, 2004. *Irene K Odotei and Albert K. Awedoba (eds) Chieftaincy in Ghana: Culture, Governance and Development, Sub-Saharan Publishers, Accra, 2006. *K.A. Busia, The Position of the Chief in Modern Political System of Ashanti, Frank Cass, London, 1968. *Debrah, E. ‘Assessing the quality of accountability in Ghana’s district assemblies, 1993 – 2008’ African Journal of Political Science and International Relations 3 (6), pp. 278-287, June, 2009. Debrah, E.  2014. ‘The Politics of Decentralization in Ghana’s Fourth Republic’. African Studies Review, 57 (1) (April): 49-69. Republic of Ghana, Constitution of the 4th Republic, 1992. Republic of Ghana, Local Government Act 462, 1993. Republic of Ghana, District Assemblies’ Common Fund Act (Act 455).