Assessing The Comprehensiveness Of Community Participation In The Planning And Implementation Of Development Projects. A Case Of The Women And Children’s Ward (Wcw) Facility In Abokobi, Ghana

ABSTRACT

Community development projects requires the use of participatory approaches in the formulation

of plans to reflect the needs and aspiration of the people. Participatory development perceives local

people as experts within their own circumstances, thus highlighting the need to draw on their

strengths and indigenous capabilities. Active participation ensures that the beneficiaries of the

development project are empowered to become actively involved in all stages of a project cycle.

The nine-month long (October 2018 to July 2019) study, took place in Abokobi in the Ga east

municipality and examined the pattern of community participation in development project in the

Abokobi municipality. Using a qualitative research approach, the study investigated the roles

handed to different category of community members through in-depth interviews conducted

amongst twenty-two (22) respondents in other to analyze the comprehensiveness of community

participation within the study location. The study also examines some factors that hinder or

enhance the involvement of community members or beneficiaries in the development process of

the Municipality. The study found that there was active engagement of people at the initial stages

of project execution by the Assembly. However active engagement of community members

reduced as the project progressed to the implementation stage. The study also found that grassroot

mobilization and the formation of community organizations were key social factors that enhanced

the participation of people in the development process because the Assembly found it convenient

engaging community organized groups. The study also found that the assembly uses

incentivization and community sensitization as a strategy to raise awareness and encourage

community members to attend meetings. The study therefore concludes that the Assembly

continuously uses this strategy because the community members themselves condones it and sees

it as a pre-requisite for their involvement in town hall meetings.