EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THE LABOUR INTENSIVE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME IN GHANA (LIPWP): A CASE STUDY OF THE KASSENA-NANKANA WEST AND NABDAM DISTRICTS

ABSTRACT

Social protection programmes are redistributive programmes carried out by various governments to enhance the livelihood of the poor and vulnerable in society. Unfortunately, these programmes are confronted with errors, fraud, and corruption (EFCs), thus rendering them ineffective. This study seeks to contribute to the existing knowledge gap in social accountability mechanisms within social intervention programmes. The study seeks to examine the extent of effectiveness of social accountability mechanisms within the Ghana Social Opportunities Project, using the Kassena-Nankana West and Nabdam Districts as case studies. To achieve the purpose of the study, the study sought to examine the extent to which social accountability mechanisms are able to ensure accountability of service providers to beneficiaries and to also investigate the contextual factors that are essential to social accountability. A qualitative research approach and interpretive research paradigm were used. A sampling size of 25 comprising of 5 implementers and 20 beneficiaries were used. Fifteen (15) in-depth interviews and two (2) focus group discussions were the main sources of data for the study. Purposive sampling techniques were used to obtain information from the implementers and convenience sampling technique was used for the beneficiaries. The findings suggest that, even though there existed social accountability mechanisms within the social protection programme, these were not utilised to ensure accountability of the service providers to the beneficiaries, because these mechanisms did not empower the beneficiaries to be able to exercise the accountability responsibility. Also, there existed social, cultural and economic contextual factors that hindered the usage of the accountability mechanisms. The study concluded and suggested recommendation for research, practice, and policy. In a nutshell, poor accountability mechanisms are the root causes of the ineffectiveness in social protection interventions.