Personal, Public and Political Impacts of a New District: Survey Data from Before and After the Creation of Ghana’s Nabdam District

Abstract

In June 2012 the government of Ghana added 42 new districts to the country’s system of local governance. This paper measures the impact of one new district in terms of private wealth accumulation, access to public services and political engagement. Data analysed comes from a panel survey of residents of the new district capital and two similarly sized villages, one in the new district and one just outside. Proponents of government fragmentation promise personal, public and political gains when government is brought closer to the people. Evidence weighed here suggests that these gains are largely realized by residents.