Partners in Crime or in Development: An inquiry into the relations between NGOs and local government in Ghana

In Africa as in many other jurisdictions, NGOs and local government work closely together and the extant literature argues that, a good, cordial and ‘sweet’ relations between them should enhance programme delivery and... [ view full abstract ]

In Africa as in many other jurisdictions, NGOs and local government work closely together and the extant literature argues that, a good, cordial and ‘sweet’ relations between them should enhance programme delivery and consequently contribute to poverty reduction (Osborne et al. 2008; Snavely and Desai 2001b; Snavely and Desai 2001a; Grødeland 2008). In this regard, the advocacy seems to suggest that NGOs and local government should push for cordial relations. Although collaborative approach to service and programme delivery is ideal, it is said to have constraints that minimize the benefits thereof. Bawole and Hossain (2014) have argued that NGO and local government relations can be complex, not straight forward and predicated on several factors, and consequently characterised by superficial and suspicious cordiality; tokenistic and cosmetic collaboration; friendly-foe relation; and convenient and cautious partnerships. For enhanced benefits of the relations, there is need to have more engaging relations which allow the parties to build synergies for service delivery. It is suggested that some form of collaboration might not inure for the benefit of programme delivery and poverty reduction (Bawole and Hossain). This suggestion is borne from the fear that when NGOs and local government become too close, they could become collusive (Bawole and Hossain, 2014) but such suggestions require investigation to be validated. This study therefore seeks to answer the following research questions: Do hostile relations between local government and NGOs always thwart synergistic programme delivery? Do positive relations engender collusive behaviour between local government and NGOs? The study will used the Ghana Aids Commission’s strategy to give HIV/AIDS Funds to local government to disburse to NGOs in their operational areas as a case study.

This paper will be conducted using qualitative methodology which is considered appropriate for the nature of the study (Berg, 2004; Silverman, 2005). The study will be conducted in five local government agencies in the Northern and Upper East Regions. The Northern and Upper East regions are selected because they record an average poverty incidence of nearly 70%, far beyond the national average of 28.5% (GSS, 2008). The two regions together with the Upper West record the highest presence of development NGOs (USAID, 2010). A purposive sampling regime will be adopted for selecting the respondents in these agencies. Specifically, the study will adopt the criterion sampling where sampling is based upon the individuals’ experience of the phenomenon under investigation (Teddlie and Yu, 2007; Collingridge and Gantt, 2008; Abrams, 2010). Primary data will be collected through key informant interviews and a sample drawn from the following: Officers from Ghana AIDS Commission, District Chief Executives, Coordinating Directors, Development Planning Officers, Social Welfare Officers, Directors of Education, Directors of Health, Directors of Agriculture, and NGO Directors. In addition, chiefs, local counsellors (assembly members), Unit committee members, members of women’s groups, farmer-based organisations among other. This broad sampling is meant to reflect the many actors who are either directly engaged in the relations between the two actors or are keen observers of the relations and behaviour of the actors.