UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

 

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (MPHIL) POLITICAL SCIENCE

 

POLI 608: GOVERNMENT BUDGETING

 

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST, SECOND SEMESTER, 2021-2022

 

LECTURER: PROFESSOR ATSU AYEE

 

LECTURE TIME: MONDAY, 2 PM – 4 PM

 

1.  Course Objective

 

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the concept of government budgeting. Specifically, it deals with what a budget is about, the types of budgets (balanced, surplus and deficit), the qualities of a good budget, importance of the budget, the budgetary process, the institutional framework for budgeting in Ghana, the politics of budgeting, the public financial management system. It also examines budget reform strategies, fiscal decentralization and techniques and tools of budgeting such as line-item budgeting, Zero-Based Budgeting, mediumterm expenditure framework (MTEF), Activity Based Budgeting (ABB), Programme Based Budgeting (PBB) and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.

 

2.  Learning Objectives

 

The learning objectives of the course are at three levels, namely, knowledge, skills and behaviour. 

 

3.  Learning Outcomes

 

At the end of the course, students should be able to do the following:

 

•        Define government budgeting. 

•        Describe the budget process.

•        Appreciate the politics of the budget process.

•        Identify the three types of the budget.

•        Enumerate Ghana’s public financial management system, its strengths and weaknesses.

•        Describe the institutional framework for the budget in Ghana • Describe the strategies for budget reform in Ghana • Describe the techniques and tools of budgeting.

•        Make a prognosis of the future of government budgeting in Ghana.

 

4.  Instructional Methodology

 

This class will use a seminar/workshop format and will meet for three hours once a week. It will comprise a combination of lectures, discussions, student presentations and term papers.

 

 

5.  Evaluation

 

Seminar presentation by student                                                        -           25%

Term paper of 2,500 words on student’s choice of topic                  -           25%

Written Examination                                                                          -           50%

Total                                                                                        -           100

 

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS

 

WEEK 1

Nature and scope of government budgeting: definitions, features and importance of the budget

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Hilton, R.M. & P.G. Joyce, “Performance Information and Budgeting in Historical and Comparative Perspective”, in B. Guy Peters & Jon Pierre (eds.) The Handbook of Public Administration. London: Sage, 2007. Chapter 20.

 

Kok, L. “Accrual Budgeting in a Comparative Perspective”, in B. Guy Peters & Jon Pierre (eds.) The Handbook of Public Administration. London: Sage, 2007. Chapter 21.

 

United Nations, Realizing Human Rights through Government Budgets. New York: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). HR/PUB/17/2017.

 

Humado, C.K. “Pro-poor Policies and the Budget Process: The Role of Parliament/Parliamentarians – the Ghanaian Experience”, in Parliaments, Poverty and the Budget Process in Africa. Accra: Africa Poverty Reduction and Parliamentarian Centre, 2009.

 

Caiden, Naomi and Aaron Wildavsky. Planning and Budgeting in Poor Countries. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1974.

OECD, OECD principles of budgetary governance. Available at:

http://www.oecd.org/governance/budgeting/draft-prin-ciples-budgetary-governance.pdf. (Accessed January 20, 2020)

 

United Nations, Realizing Human Rights through Government Budget. New York & Geneva: UN, 2017.

 

WEEK 2

Types of budget: strengths and weaknesses

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Ipek,    E.A.S. “New   Approaches     in         Public Budgeting”,    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82371

Hou, Y. “Designing and Administering Revenue Systems”, in J.L. Perry & R. Christensen (eds.) Handbook of Public Administration 3edn. San Francisco, CA: Wiley, 2015. Chapter 23.

 

OECD, OECD principles of budgetary governance. Available at:

http://www.oecd.org/governance/budgeting/draft-prin-ciples-budgetary-governance.pdf. (Accessed January 20, 2020)

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Caiden, Naomi and Aaron Wildavsky. Planning and Budgeting in Poor Countries. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1974.

 

United Nations, Realizing Human Rights through Government Budget. New York & Geneva: UN, 2017.

 

 

WEEK 3

The budgetary process or cycle: strengths and weaknesses

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Ipek,    E.A.S. “New   Approaches     in         Public Budgeting”,    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82371

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Caiden, Naomi and Aaron Wildavsky. Planning and Budgeting in Poor Countries. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1974.

 

 

WEEK 4

Institutional framework for budgeting in Ghana: issues, strengths and weaknesses

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Act, Act 921, 2016. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press, 2016.

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Regulations, LI2378, 2019. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press.

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Garnet, H & W. Plowden, “Cabinets, Budgets and Poverty: Political Commitment to Poverty Reduction”, in B. Levy & S. Kpundeh (eds.) Building State Capacity in Africa: New Approaches, Emerging Lessons. Washington DC: The World Bank, 2004, Chapter 5.

 

B. Dorotinksky & R. Floyd, “Public Expenditure Accountability in Africa: Progress, Lessons and Challenges”, in B. Levy & S. Kpundeh (eds.) Building State Capacity in Africa: New Approaches, Emerging Lessons. Washington DC: The World Bank, 2004, Chapter 6.

 

OECD. OECD principles of budgetary governance, http://www.oecd.org/governance/budgeting/draft-prin-ciples-budgetary-governance.pdf. (Accessed January 20, 2020).

 

Nicholas Adamtey, The Road to Budget Transparency in Ghana,

https://www.internationalbudget.org/wp-content/uploads/the-road-to-budget transparency-inghana-ibp-case-study-2017.pdf 

 

 

WEEK 5

Ghana’s public financial management system: issues 

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Act, Act 921, 2016. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press, 2016.

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Regulations, LI2378, 2019. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press.

 

Adamtey, N. (2017) The Road to Budget Transparency in Ghana,

https://www.internationalbudget.org/wp-content/uploads/the-road-to-budgettransparency-inghana-ibp-case-study-2017.pdf (accessed, 20/1/20)

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

WEEK 6

Ghana’s public financial management system: strengths and weaknesses

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Act, Act 921, 2016. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press, 2016.

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Regulations, LI2378, 2019. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press.

 

Adamtey, N. (2017) The Road to Budget Transparency in Ghana,

https://www.internationalbudget.org/wp-content/uploads/the-road-to-budgettransparency-inghana-ibp-case-study-2017.pdf (accessed, 20/1/20)

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

WEEK 7

Strategies for budget reform in Ghana

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Schick, A. “Twenty Five Years of Budgeting Reform”, OECD Journal of Budgeting, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2004, pp. 81-102.

 

OECD, Managing Public Expenditure: A Reference Book for Transition Societies. Paris: OECD, 2001.

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

WEEK 7

Fiscal decentralization in Ghana: issues, strengths and weaknesses

 

Institute for Fiscal Studies, “Fiscal Decentralization in Ghana: Progress and Challenges”.  Prepared by the staff team of the IFS, led by Edna Osei (Research Analyst) June 2017. Discussion Paper No. 10, 2017.

 

Amoako-Asiedu, E. & K.A. Domfeh, “The Challenges of Central Government Fiscal and Financial Policies on Local Government Programmes in Ghana”. International Journal of African and Asian Studies, Vol. 26, 2016, pp. 32-40.

 

Dafflon, B & T. Madies (eds.) The Political Economy of Decentralization in Sub Saharan Africa. Washington DC: World Bank, 2013.

 

 

 

WEEK 8

Techniques and tools of budgeting: line item and zero-based budgeting

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Ipek,    E.A.S. “New   Approaches     in         Public Budgeting”,    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82371

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Wildavsky, A. “A budget for all seasons? Why the traditional budget lasts,” Public Administration Review 38 (6), 1978: 501–509.

 

 

WEEK 8

Techniques and tools of budgeting in Ghana: activity-based budgeting versus programme based budgeting

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Ho, A.T-K., “Performance Budgeting”, in J.L. Perry & R. Christensen (eds.) Handbook of Public Administration 3edn. San Francisco, CA: Wiley, 2015. Chapter 22.

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Schick, A.  “The metamorphoses of performance budgeting,” OECD Journal of Budgeting, 13(2), 2013.

 

Wildavsky, A. “A budget for all seasons? Why the traditional budget lasts,” Public Administration Review 38 (6), 1978: 501–509.

 

 

 

WEEK 9

The politics of budgeting in Ghana

 

Killick, T. “The politics of Ghana’s budgetary system”, CDD/ODI Policy Brief No. 2, November 2005.

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Johnson, M. “Understanding the Real Budget Process: The Case of Ghana”, IFFRI Discussion Note # 029.

 

Wildavsky, A. The New Politics of the Budgetary Process. 2d ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1992.

 

 

WEEK 9

The political business cycle in Ghana

 

Iddrisu, A. G. & G.A. Bokpin, “Political business cycles and economic growth in Africa”, Journal of Economic Studies, Vol. 45 No. 4, 2018 pp. 760-772.

 

Kwankye, J.K. “Budget Discipline should be Entrenched in Ghana as a Policy Priority”, Legislative Alert, Vol. 21, No.1, August, 2014.

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

WEEK 10

The future of government budgeting in Ghana

 

Killick, T. “The politics of Ghana’s budgetary system”, CDD/ODI Policy Brief No. 2, November 2005.

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Ipek,    E.A.S. “New   Approaches     in         Public Budgeting”,    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82371

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEMINAR TOPICS

 

 

1.     What is government budgeting? What are its features, strengths and weaknesses?

 

2.     Why is budgeting political?

 

3.     Comment on the view that the budget is a contract between citizens and the state, showing how resources are raised and allocated for public services delivery.

 

4.     Examine the linkages between obligations under international human rights law and budget policies and processes.

 

5.     Examine the major types of budgeting.

 

6.     Discuss the budgetary cycle in Ghana. Illustrate your answer with examples.

 

7.     Examine the major reforms implemented over the years to improve budgeting in Ghana.

 

8.     How effective is Ghana’s public financial management system? Give examples to illustrate your points.

 

9.     Compare and contrast line-item budgeting and zero-based budgeting.

 

10.  Compare and contrast activity-based budgeting and programme-based budgeting.

 

11.  Comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as practiced in Ghana. Give examples to illustrate your points.

 

12.  Comment on the view that fiscal decentralization remains the Achilles heel of decentralization in Ghana.

 

13.  How can the political business cycle be improved in Ghana?

 

14.  Assuming you have been appointed the Minister of Finance of Ghana, examine some of the reforms you will introduce in the country’s budget statement and economic policy.

 

15.  What do you think is the future of government budgeting in Ghana?

 

 

 

 

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

 

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (MPHIL) POLITICAL SCIENCE

 

POLI 608: GOVERNMENT BUDGETING

 

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST, SECOND SEMESTER, 2021-2022

 

LECTURER: PROFESSOR ATSU AYEE

 

LECTURE TIME: MONDAY, 2 PM – 4 PM

 

1.  Course Objective

 

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the concept of government budgeting. Specifically, it deals with what a budget is about, the types of budgets (balanced, surplus and deficit), the qualities of a good budget, importance of the budget, the budgetary process, the institutional framework for budgeting in Ghana, the politics of budgeting, the public financial management system. It also examines budget reform strategies, fiscal decentralization and techniques and tools of budgeting such as line-item budgeting, Zero-Based Budgeting, mediumterm expenditure framework (MTEF), Activity Based Budgeting (ABB), Programme Based Budgeting (PBB) and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.

 

2.  Learning Objectives

 

The learning objectives of the course are at three levels, namely, knowledge, skills and behaviour. 

 

3.  Learning Outcomes

 

At the end of the course, students should be able to do the following:

 

•        Define government budgeting. 

•        Describe the budget process.

•        Appreciate the politics of the budget process.

•        Identify the three types of the budget.

•        Enumerate Ghana’s public financial management system, its strengths and weaknesses.

•        Describe the institutional framework for the budget in Ghana • Describe the strategies for budget reform in Ghana • Describe the techniques and tools of budgeting.

•        Make a prognosis of the future of government budgeting in Ghana.

 

4.  Instructional Methodology

 

This class will use a seminar/workshop format and will meet for three hours once a week. It will comprise a combination of lectures, discussions, student presentations and term papers.

 

 

5.  Evaluation

 

Seminar presentation by student                                                        -           25%

Term paper of 2,500 words on student’s choice of topic                  -           25%

Written Examination                                                                          -           50%

Total                                                                                        -           100

 

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS

 

WEEK 1

Nature and scope of government budgeting: definitions, features and importance of the budget

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Hilton, R.M. & P.G. Joyce, “Performance Information and Budgeting in Historical and Comparative Perspective”, in B. Guy Peters & Jon Pierre (eds.) The Handbook of Public Administration. London: Sage, 2007. Chapter 20.

 

Kok, L. “Accrual Budgeting in a Comparative Perspective”, in B. Guy Peters & Jon Pierre (eds.) The Handbook of Public Administration. London: Sage, 2007. Chapter 21.

 

United Nations, Realizing Human Rights through Government Budgets. New York: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). HR/PUB/17/2017.

 

Humado, C.K. “Pro-poor Policies and the Budget Process: The Role of Parliament/Parliamentarians – the Ghanaian Experience”, in Parliaments, Poverty and the Budget Process in Africa. Accra: Africa Poverty Reduction and Parliamentarian Centre, 2009.

 

Caiden, Naomi and Aaron Wildavsky. Planning and Budgeting in Poor Countries. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1974.

OECD, OECD principles of budgetary governance. Available at:

http://www.oecd.org/governance/budgeting/draft-prin-ciples-budgetary-governance.pdf. (Accessed January 20, 2020)

 

United Nations, Realizing Human Rights through Government Budget. New York & Geneva: UN, 2017.

 

WEEK 2

Types of budget: strengths and weaknesses

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Ipek,    E.A.S. “New   Approaches     in         Public Budgeting”,    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82371

Hou, Y. “Designing and Administering Revenue Systems”, in J.L. Perry & R. Christensen (eds.) Handbook of Public Administration 3edn. San Francisco, CA: Wiley, 2015. Chapter 23.

 

OECD, OECD principles of budgetary governance. Available at:

http://www.oecd.org/governance/budgeting/draft-prin-ciples-budgetary-governance.pdf. (Accessed January 20, 2020)

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Caiden, Naomi and Aaron Wildavsky. Planning and Budgeting in Poor Countries. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1974.

 

United Nations, Realizing Human Rights through Government Budget. New York & Geneva: UN, 2017.

 

 

WEEK 3

The budgetary process or cycle: strengths and weaknesses

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Ipek,    E.A.S. “New   Approaches     in         Public Budgeting”,    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82371

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Caiden, Naomi and Aaron Wildavsky. Planning and Budgeting in Poor Countries. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1974.

 

 

WEEK 4

Institutional framework for budgeting in Ghana: issues, strengths and weaknesses

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Act, Act 921, 2016. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press, 2016.

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Regulations, LI2378, 2019. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press.

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Garnet, H & W. Plowden, “Cabinets, Budgets and Poverty: Political Commitment to Poverty Reduction”, in B. Levy & S. Kpundeh (eds.) Building State Capacity in Africa: New Approaches, Emerging Lessons. Washington DC: The World Bank, 2004, Chapter 5.

 

B. Dorotinksky & R. Floyd, “Public Expenditure Accountability in Africa: Progress, Lessons and Challenges”, in B. Levy & S. Kpundeh (eds.) Building State Capacity in Africa: New Approaches, Emerging Lessons. Washington DC: The World Bank, 2004, Chapter 6.

 

OECD. OECD principles of budgetary governance, http://www.oecd.org/governance/budgeting/draft-prin-ciples-budgetary-governance.pdf. (Accessed January 20, 2020).

 

Nicholas Adamtey, The Road to Budget Transparency in Ghana,

https://www.internationalbudget.org/wp-content/uploads/the-road-to-budget transparency-inghana-ibp-case-study-2017.pdf 

 

 

WEEK 5

Ghana’s public financial management system: issues 

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Act, Act 921, 2016. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press, 2016.

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Regulations, LI2378, 2019. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press.

 

Adamtey, N. (2017) The Road to Budget Transparency in Ghana,

https://www.internationalbudget.org/wp-content/uploads/the-road-to-budgettransparency-inghana-ibp-case-study-2017.pdf (accessed, 20/1/20)

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

WEEK 6

Ghana’s public financial management system: strengths and weaknesses

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Act, Act 921, 2016. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press, 2016.

 

Republic of Ghana, Public Financial Management Regulations, LI2378, 2019. Accra: GPCL Assembly Press.

 

Adamtey, N. (2017) The Road to Budget Transparency in Ghana,

https://www.internationalbudget.org/wp-content/uploads/the-road-to-budgettransparency-inghana-ibp-case-study-2017.pdf (accessed, 20/1/20)

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

WEEK 7

Strategies for budget reform in Ghana

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Schick, A. “Twenty Five Years of Budgeting Reform”, OECD Journal of Budgeting, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2004, pp. 81-102.

 

OECD, Managing Public Expenditure: A Reference Book for Transition Societies. Paris: OECD, 2001.

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

WEEK 7

Fiscal decentralization in Ghana: issues, strengths and weaknesses

 

Institute for Fiscal Studies, “Fiscal Decentralization in Ghana: Progress and Challenges”.  Prepared by the staff team of the IFS, led by Edna Osei (Research Analyst) June 2017. Discussion Paper No. 10, 2017.

 

Amoako-Asiedu, E. & K.A. Domfeh, “The Challenges of Central Government Fiscal and Financial Policies on Local Government Programmes in Ghana”. International Journal of African and Asian Studies, Vol. 26, 2016, pp. 32-40.

 

Dafflon, B & T. Madies (eds.) The Political Economy of Decentralization in Sub Saharan Africa. Washington DC: World Bank, 2013.

 

 

 

WEEK 8

Techniques and tools of budgeting: line item and zero-based budgeting

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Ipek,    E.A.S. “New   Approaches     in         Public Budgeting”,    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82371

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Wildavsky, A. “A budget for all seasons? Why the traditional budget lasts,” Public Administration Review 38 (6), 1978: 501–509.

 

 

WEEK 8

Techniques and tools of budgeting in Ghana: activity-based budgeting versus programme based budgeting

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Ho, A.T-K., “Performance Budgeting”, in J.L. Perry & R. Christensen (eds.) Handbook of Public Administration 3edn. San Francisco, CA: Wiley, 2015. Chapter 22.

 

Kariuki, E. & K. Kiragu, “Public Expenditure Management” in L. Adamolekun (ed.) Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies. 2^nd edn. Ibadan: Evans Brothers. Chapter 6.

 

Rubin, I.S. “New Directions in Public Budgeting”, in D.C. Menzel & H.L. White (eds.) The State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. London/New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Chapter 9.

 

Schick, A.  “The metamorphoses of performance budgeting,” OECD Journal of Budgeting, 13(2), 2013.

 

Wildavsky, A. “A budget for all seasons? Why the traditional budget lasts,” Public Administration Review 38 (6), 1978: 501–509.

 

 

 

WEEK 9

The politics of budgeting in Ghana

 

Killick, T. “The politics of Ghana’s budgetary system”, CDD/ODI Policy Brief No. 2, November 2005.

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Johnson, M. “Understanding the Real Budget Process: The Case of Ghana”, IFFRI Discussion Note # 029.

 

Wildavsky, A. The New Politics of the Budgetary Process. 2d ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1992.

 

 

WEEK 9

The political business cycle in Ghana

 

Iddrisu, A. G. & G.A. Bokpin, “Political business cycles and economic growth in Africa”, Journal of Economic Studies, Vol. 45 No. 4, 2018 pp. 760-772.

 

Kwankye, J.K. “Budget Discipline should be Entrenched in Ghana as a Policy Priority”, Legislative Alert, Vol. 21, No.1, August, 2014.

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

WEEK 10

The future of government budgeting in Ghana

 

Killick, T. “The politics of Ghana’s budgetary system”, CDD/ODI Policy Brief No. 2, November 2005.

 

Republic of Ghana, The Budget Operations Manual for Development of the National Budget. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance (Budget Division), n.d.

 

Ipek,    E.A.S. “New   Approaches     in         Public Budgeting”,    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82371

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEMINAR TOPICS

 

 

1.     What is government budgeting? What are its features, strengths and weaknesses?

 

2.     Why is budgeting political?

 

3.     Comment on the view that the budget is a contract between citizens and the state, showing how resources are raised and allocated for public services delivery.

 

4.     Examine the linkages between obligations under international human rights law and budget policies and processes.

 

5.     Examine the major types of budgeting.

 

6.     Discuss the budgetary cycle in Ghana. Illustrate your answer with examples.

 

7.     Examine the major reforms implemented over the years to improve budgeting in Ghana.

 

8.     How effective is Ghana’s public financial management system? Give examples to illustrate your points.

 

9.     Compare and contrast line-item budgeting and zero-based budgeting.

 

10.  Compare and contrast activity-based budgeting and programme-based budgeting.

 

11.  Comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as practiced in Ghana. Give examples to illustrate your points.

 

12.  Comment on the view that fiscal decentralization remains the Achilles heel of decentralization in Ghana.

 

13.  How can the political business cycle be improved in Ghana?

 

14.  Assuming you have been appointed the Minister of Finance of Ghana, examine some of the reforms you will introduce in the country’s budget statement and economic policy.

 

15.  What do you think is the future of government budgeting in Ghana?

 

   

 

 University of Ghana 

(Main and City Campuses)  

Department of Political Science  

Second Semester, 2020/2021 Academic Year  

Lecturers: Dr. Paul Acheampong Boakye: Email: paboakye@ug.edu.gh

Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato:  Email:jjzaato@ug.edu.gh

Office hours:  By Appointment   

Course Title		Political Research Methods
Course Code		POLI 344
Purpose		POLI 344 is intended to provide students with the opportunity to learn and practice inquiry processes for conducting political/social research. This course will provide students with the ability to understand and evaluate information gathered through political/social research methods. The course will give students a firm grounding in the fundamentals of political research and to familiarize students with a range of typical data collection and analysis methods and processes in political science. Consequently, students will be provided with the core skills in data collections and analysis that can be applied in an academic setting or work.
Course Objectives		At the end of the term, students will:  •        Be confident in applying appropriate research methods to answer social and political questions.  •        Appreciate the principles that guides the design and evaluation of social science research.  •        Become critical consumers of social science research and information.  •        Enhance their critical thinking, research aptitude, and writing skills through completion of written assignments and other activities.  •        Develop practical experience in applying their knowledge through classroom and tutorial exercises.
Expectations		This course is structured in such a way to facilitate active learning through participation. As such, there will be less lecturing and more hands-on/in-class discussions and simulations for students to appreciate the ethos and elements of empirical research. For this to work, students will be required to do some preparation before coming to class, for both lectures and tutorials. At a minimum, preparation will almost always involve reading the assigned materials before each class. This advance preparation is not optional if one is to succeed in this course. In order to participate in class, students will need to be prepared. Failure to do so will have a significant impact on students’ learning and on the learning of their classmates. Students can expect this course to be more demanding than many other courses; the payoff is acquiring a set of skills and knowledge that will be of use in students’ remaining courses and in their future careers.
Assessment		The final examination mark (100%) will comprise:  Continuous Assessment        – 60%  Final Written Exam               – 40%
Week No.	Date	Topic description	Venue
1		1.     Overview of the research Process:   •        Statement of the Problem   •        Research Objectives and Questions   •        Literature Review   •        Theory   2.     Research Proposal	In-Person/Virtual
2&3		Methods of Data Collection      Qualitative techniques:   •        Case Study  •        Interviews  •        Focus groups	In-Person/Virtual
4&5		Methods of Data Collection      Qualitative techniques:   •        Participant Observation  •        Action Research  •        Photovoice	In-Person/Virtual
6&7		Methods of Data Collection      Qualitative techniques:   •        Narrative Inquiry  •        Discourse Analysis  •        Grounded Theory	In-Person/Virtual
8&9		Methods of Data Collection      Quantitative techniques:   •        Surveys  •        Questionnaire Design	In-Person/Virtual
10&11		Data Analysis (II)   Presenting Results Using:  •        Qualitative Research  •        Quantitative Research	In-Person/Virtual
12		Mixed Methods	In-Person/Virtual
	TBD	End-of-Semester Examinations	TBD

 

Required Weekly Readings  

  

  

Week 1 

Rowley, J., & Slack, F. (2004). Conducting a literature review. Management research news, 27(6), 31-39 

Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 39(1), 93-112. 

McGaghie, W. C., Bordage, G., & Shea, J. A. (2001). Problem statement, conceptual framework, and research question. Academic medicine, 76(9), 923-924. 

Nasution, M. K., & Aulia, I. (2019, June). Design of the research problem statement. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1235, No. 1, p. 012115). IOP Publishing. 

Stewart, D., & Klein, S. (2016). The use of theory in research. International journal of clinical pharmacy, 38(3), 615-619. 

 

  

Week 2&3

Flyvbjerg, B. (2006). Five misunderstandings about case-study research. Qualitative inquiry, 12(2), 219-245. 

Garson, G. D. (2002). Case study research in public administration and public policy: Standards and strategies. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 8(3), 209-216. 

Gill, P., Stewart, K., Treasure, E., & Chadwick, B. (2008). Methods of data collection in qualitative research: interviews and focus groups. British dental journal, 204(6), 291-295. 

Dilley, P. (2000). Conducting successful interviews: Tips for intrepid research. Theory into practice, 39(3), 131-137. 

Morgan, D. (1996). Focus Groups. Annual Review of Sociology. 22(1), 129-152. 

  

  

Week 4&5 

Bogdan, R. (1973). Participant Observation. Peabody Journal of Education 50(4), 302-308. 

Bargal, D. (2008). Action Research: A Paradigm for Achieving Social Change. Small Group Research 39(1), 17-27. 

Robertson, J. (2000). The Three Rs of Action Research Methodology: Reciprocity, Reflexivity and Reflection-on-Reality. Educational Action Research 8(2), 307-326. 

Wang, C., Cash J. and Powers, L. (2000). Who Knows the Streets as Well as the Homeless?  Promoting Personal and Community Action Through Photovoice. Health Promotion Practice 1(1), 81-89. 

Strack, R., Magill, C. & McDonagh, K. (2004). Engaging Youth Through Photovoice. Health Promotion Practice 5(1), 49-58. 

  

Week 6&7 

Riley, T. & Hawe, P. (2005). Researching Practice: The Methodological Case for Narrative Inquiry. Health Education Research 20(2), 226-36. 

Ospina, S.M., & Dodge. J. (2005). It’s about Time: Catching Method up to Meaning – the Usefulness of Narrative Inquiry in Public Administration Research. Public Administration Review 65(2), 143-57. 

Alvesson, M., & Karreman, D. (2000). Varieties of Discourse: On the Study of Organizations through Discourse Analysis. Human Relations. 53(9), 1135-1149. 

Hewitt, S. (2009). Discourse Analysis and Public Policy Research. Centre for Rural Economy Discussion Paper Series 24. 

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1994). Grounded Theory Methodology: An Overview. In N. K. Denzin

& Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.). Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 273-285). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 

Keddy, B., Sims, S., & Stern, P.N. (1996). Grounded Theory as Feminist Research Methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing 23(3), 448–53. 

Suddaby, R. (2006). What Grounded Theory is Not. The Academy of Management Journal 49(4), 633-42. 

  

  

Week 8&9 

Couper, M. P. (2017). New developments in survey data collection. Annual Review of Sociology, 43, 121-145. 

Frohlich, M. T. (2002). Techniques for improving response rates in OM survey research. Journal of Operations Management, 20(1), 53-62. 

Speklé, R. F., & Widener, S. K. (2018). Challenging issues in survey research: Discussion and suggestions. Journal of Management Accounting Research, 30(2), 3-21. 

Kazi, A. M., & Khalid, W. (2012). Questionnaire designing and validation. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 62(5), 514. 

Colosi, L. (2006). Designing an effective questionnaire. Research brief available online at: http://parenting. cit. cornell. edu/documents/Designing an Effective Questionnaire. pdf. 

Jain, S., Dubey, S., & Jain, S. (2016). Designing and validation of questionnaire. International dental & medical journal of advanced research, 2(1), 1-3. 

  

  

Week 10&11 

Pitchforth, E., Porter, M., van Teijlingen, E., & Keenan, K. F. (2005). Writing up and presenting qualitative research in family planning and reproductive health care 31(2), 132-135.  Sandelowski, M. (1998). Writing a good read: Strategies for re‐presenting qualitative data. Research in nursing & health, 21(4), 375-382. 

Gillan, D. J., Wickens, C. D., Hollands, J. G., & Carswell, C. M. (1998). Guidelines for presenting quantitative data in HFES publications. Human Factors, 40(1), 28-41. 

  

  

  

  

Week 12 

Brannen, J. (2005). Mixing methods: The entry of qualitative and quantitative approaches into the research process. International journal of social research methodology, 8(3), 173184.  Johnson, R. B., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Turner, L. A. (2007). Toward a definition of mixed methods research. Journal of mixed methods research, 1(2), 112-133. 

  

Optional Reading 

 

Archer, K., & Berdahl, L. (2011). Explorations: Conducting empirical research in Canadian political science. 3^rd Ed. Don Mills: Oxford University Press. 

Bouma, G. D., Ling, R., & Wilkinson, L. (2012). The Research Process, Third Canadian Edition. Don Mills: Oxford University Press. 

  

Assessments/Assignments  

                          

1. Assignment 1: Interim Assessment (30marks)  

The format for this assessment will be discussed in class. 

                          

2. Assignment 2 – Term Paper (30 marks)  

Prepare a term paper that applies one of the data collection methods discussed in class to any political or social issue in Ghana. The topic for the paper must be political science related (e.g. social and public policies, democracy and governance issues, conflicts, etc). Write between 4000 to 6000 words, excluding references.  The bibliography must contain a minimum of 10 references. 

3.       Assignment 3: Final Exam (40)

 

Late Submissions  

Late submission of assignment shall not be entertained at any time. 

  

Note: computer or internet failure is not grounds for an extension. Always back-up your work to avoid any potential last-minute catastrophes. 

 

All papers and work should be submitted electronically through Sakai (No emails). Please keep a copy of any work submitted for grading in this course. 

 

Appeals 

  

If a student has a concern about the course or a grade they have been assigned, they must first discuss their concerns with the instructor. If this does not resolve the matter, the student can then proceed with an academic appeal following the guidelines set out in the University’s handbook.  

  

University Regulations 

 

Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the University policies found in the University of Ghana Handbook.