POLITICAL CLIENTELISM AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMMES IN DEVELOPING DEMOCRACIES: AN EXAMINATION OF GHANA’S LIVELIHOOD EMPOWERMENT AGAINST POVERTY.

ABSTRACT 

Ghana’s steady progress toward democratic consolidation has received significant applause worldwide. Notwithstanding this achievement, the selection of beneficiaries of poverty alleviation programmes by incumbent government has often been compromised for political gains. Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme was introduced a decade ago by the state with the aim of using it to alleviate the suffering of the extremely poor and the vulnerable. This study set out to examine the role of political clientelism in the implementation of LEAP. With this objective, the study addressed a number of issues including the examination of the processes involve in the selection of LEAP beneficiaries in practice and the extent to which the LEAP programme has been characterised by clientelistic politics. Concurrent Mixed Methods approach was employed to collect and analyse data from the field.  Quantitative data was obtained from 360 beneficiaries of LEAP and 12 officials selected from government institutions and civil society organizations associated with LEAP implementation provided the qualitative data. The study area covers 8 selected districts from Greater Accra and the Northern region of Ghana. The districts included Shai Osudoku, La Dade Kotopon, Ga East and Ga West Municipalities in the Greater Accra region and the districts from the Northern region were East Gonja, Tamale Metropolis, Kumbungu and Yendi Municipalities. Besides, the study was designed around Rational Choice Theory which contends that political actors like economic actors act rationally in the pursuit of their self-interest. At the end, it was established that the mandated eligibility criteria for the selection of the beneficiaries were observed more in breach than in compliance. The study also found that political clientelism has been a key feature of LEAP implementation, and that the provision of LEAP benefits has become contingent on the individuals political support for the party of the ruling government. To tackle the pervasive political clientelism associated with LEAP, the study recommends an active involvement of the media and civil society organizations in the implementation process.  Regular and effective monitoring of the programme by these institutions will help to expose most of the abuses carried out by politicians. Finally, for LEAP to be able to achieve its intended purpose and for the above suggested measures to yield results, it was further recommended that the political class must show strong political will and sustained commitment toward the realization of the goals of LEAP by exhibiting culture of openness and transparency in the selection process.