Decentralised Monitoring in Emerging Local Governments: An Analysis of Benefits and Constraining Factors in the Lawra Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

This paper contributes to the empirical literature on the benefits and constraining factors of monitoring in decentralised governments in emerging democratic governments. Decentralised monitoring has theoretically been recognised as providing comprehensive data for decentralised planning, quality service delivery, enhancing accountability, and assessing development interventions’ effectiveness at the local level. However, empirical evidence on its effectiveness in decentralised governance is still evolving. A case study design encompassing the conduct of 12 key informant interviews was used for the study. Findings show that monitoring supports early identification of problems for their quick resolution; enables shared learning; gives voice to community level stakeholders; checks the deviant behaviour of service providers and enhances efficiency in resource use. Inadequate staffing; scrawny knowledge and skills; derisory logistics; noncompliance to budget and calendar for monitoring and  uncoordinated arrangements in project implementation constrained decentralised monitoring effectiveness. The evidence gathered support thetheoretical arguments for decentralised monitoring and adds to the list of constraining issues in the organisational, human resource and policy factors. The study recommends effervescent advocacy for building monitoring capacity at district level and nurturing political leadership as champions for monitoring in order to get hold of development effectiveness at the local level of governance. Keywords: Decentralised Governments, Monitoring, Decentralised Monitoring, Benefits,Constraints