A Review of Plan Implementation Management Practices in the Bekwai Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
- 1 Department of Planning, College of Art and Built Environment, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- 2 Department of Planning, College of Art and Built Environment, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- 3 Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- 4 Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Abstract
Implementation is very vital in planning. This crucial aspect of planning (implementation) can only be achieved when appropriate goals and definite objectives are translated into executable strategies. This study aims at evaluating projects planning, implementation and management processes in the Bekwai Municipal Assembly, highlighting their strength and weakness and coming out with recommendations to inform future policy formulation. The case study designs with a sampled population of 310 participants, involving 300 household heads and unit committee members who were enrolled for the study. The study purposively engaged 10 participants from key units within the Assembly’s structure. The results of study demonstrate poor, unsatisfactory level of participation of concerned stakeholders at the grass root level in plan preparation and implementation. The study established that, statutory funding for the Assembly was not forthcoming. At the time of the conduct of the study, the District Assembly Common Fund, the major source of delegated funds for capital expenditures of the various MMDAs had been in arrears for over the past year. Notwithstanding these challenges, the Assembly has consistently been performing tremendously well in the FOAT (Functional Organizational Assessment Tool. Community level involvement in monitoring and evaluation of developmental projects was non-existing as none of the community members and unit committee members indicated their engagement in project monitoring and evaluation. Harnessing the resources potentials and opportunities of the Municipal remains the way forward towards expanding the revenue base of the municipality. Concerned stakeholder involvement is key to facilitating development. This could be done by adopting technologically inclined models such as mobile texting, employing the services of information vans and radio stations. The objective of realizing development project sustainability would be met if communities’ level education is provided on the need for their participation in plan preparation, implementation and management in a symbiotic manner.
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