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Title:Combating poverty in deprived rural communities towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals: the impact and challenges of local government structures in Ghana
Authors:Adjei, Prince Osei-WusuISNI
Kyei, Peter OheneISNI
Year:2011
Periodical:Journal of Local Government Studies (ISSN 2026-5840)
Volume:3
Issue:1
Pages:31-49
Language:English
Geographic term:Ghana
Subjects:poverty reduction
community development
local government
rural areas
Abstract:The world still stands challenged by the millions of people who die namelessly in rural communities because of poverty. After a decade into the millennium declaration, several developing countries are still lagging behind in their efforts towards actualizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since independence, however, successive governments of Ghana have pursued diverse forms of decentralization policies as a key development strategy for enhanced local governance and community development. Indeed, the period after 1987 to date has witnessed significant improvement in the institutionalization and capacity building of local government structures (District Assemblies) to be responsible for the overall development of local communities. However, much less effort has been made over the years to evaluate the impact of the District Assemblies on poverty reduction and community development. This paper examines the role and impact of District Assemblies in this respect. It identifies strategies to increase productivity and employment generation as well as the provision of infrastructure and social services as the core mandate of the Metropolitan/Municipal District Assemblies (MMDAs) for poverty reduction. The paper concludes that poverty remains endemic in the study areas as a result of over-emphasis on infrastructure and social service provision against local people's livelihood development. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract, edited]
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