UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN RURAL

DEVELOPMENT IN WINNEBA.

BY

ABROKWAH EMMANUEL

(202149545)

JOSEPH VIGBEDOR

(202147331)

SAMUEL AMOAKO KYERE

(202147928)

MICHAEL OPPONG

(202148953)

MERCY LARIBA AYORKA

(202147596)

CHAPTER 1

1.0 Introduction

Before 1900, any urban center seen today was once a rural area. The total transformation of the

socio-economic well-being of residents of such areas could be conceived as rural development.

Nwankwo in Onyishi (2011) observed that rural development could be seen as a strategy

designed to improve the living standards of a specific group of people known as the rural poor.

It further connotes the transformation of their economies and institutions from backwardness and

low productivity to a high productivity level in order to improve their standard of living. Sequel

from the above, it could be inferred that there are dominant features that could make a place to

be referred to as a rural area. This includes the absence of infrastructural development (such as

electricity, health care facilities, telecommunication, and pipe borne water and transportation

facilities), poor housing systems, massive engagement in subsistence agriculture, and overall

poverty of mind and material things. Aligning with the above view on rural development,

Aguene (2022) further summarize the overall goals of rural development to include: breaking of

the marginality of the rural masses through active participation in planning and implementation

of policies and programmes, freeing the people from uncertainty of nature via education,

satisfaction of the basic needs of food, shelter and cloth, improving life styles and quality of sixty

percent (60%) of the rural population and the establishment of equitable means of distribution.

Accelerating rural development does not occur in a vacuum, and as such must require joint effort

of diverse stakeholders like government, Community Based Organization (CBOs), International

Development Partners and so on. However, because of the lapses in top-down developmental

approach; communities are increasingly canvassing for alternative approach to development

wherein people participate in issues or matters that affect them via self-help effort in providing

rural bridges, feeder linking roads, market stalls, building schools and village halls, forming

farmers cooperatives and so on. Consequently, it could be deduced that the nexus between

community participation and the sustenance of rural development cannot be overlooked in the
twenty-first century. In a nutshell, community participation entails the involvement of local

communities in the planning, implementation and evaluation of developmental initiative in the

rural areas. It is built on the premises that rural

Communities are likely to benefit from development programmes/projects that they are involved

in decision- making or even have a stake in its outcome.

1.1 Background of the Study

Participation is the heart that pumps the blood of a community (Abdullahi, 2018). Participation

refers to the involvement of different sectors of community members in the ongoing community

development process (Rebecca, 2015). Participation is a dynamic process shaped by community

members’ desire to participate in issues that affect their lives. Participation is also seen as an

evolutionary process in which beneficiaries not only receive project benefits but also influence

the direction and implementation of development projects as active participants (Bamberger,

1988). That is, it is a form of involvement of people with similar needs and goals in decisions

that affect their lives. On the other hand, Community participation is a cyclical process and

cumulative in nature, making it a site of community empowerment (Rebecca, 2015).

Participation is a relevant concept in development and because if its wide application, it means

different things to different people (Barasa & Jelagat, 2013). The international community and

the many development organizations define participation as a concept playing active though not

necessarily direct roles in community decisions, knowledge of local issues, participation in

public meetings, relevant attempts to influence proposed policies through individual and group

action, membership in groups and committees, and financial contributions to the community

(Miruka, 2016). Community participation is a social process whereby specific groups with
shared needs, often but not always living in a defined geographical area, actively pursue

identification of their needs, make decisions and establish mechanism to meet these needs

(Chege, 2024). Miruka (2016) further defines community participation as a process whereby

stakeholders influence policy formulation, alternative designs, investment choices and

management of decisions affecting their communities.

Participatory rural community development paradigm projects have become increasingly popular

in the last 40years (Ostergaard et al., 2003). Participatory development approaches currently

occupy a prominent and important place in the practice and discourse of community

development (Rebecca, 2015). Meaning in the context of community development, community

participation serves as a driving force with its resultant challenges, advantages, disadvantages

and benefits. Participation is a matter on which there is a considerable disagreement among

development scholars and practitioners. However, it is considered an active process in which

beneficiary groups influence the direction and implementation of a development project (Paul,

1987).

Participation as a concept occupies a central place in development with resultant potential to

influence, challenge and change the state of affairs for the benefit of all community members

(Barasa & Jelagat, 2013). Participatory approaches are closely linked to sustainable and

decentralized development, and community engagement is a key mandate of funding and

implementing agencies, including the whole government.

However, community participation does not just happen neither it is an idle principle, rather it

needs some form of strategy and planned approach, resources, and time allocation and

commitment to the course (Burns, D et al., 2004). Samah and Aref (2009) observe that

participation in community development activities means that individuals are not only involved
in initiating, deciding, planning, implementing, and managing processes in their development

and activities but they are also actors in meeting their common needs and expectations to

overcome common development challenges. Therefore, Communities that have chosen to

participate in development discourses not only feel more satisfied from the joy that comes from

participation but also get more results and in turn attain a sustainable development.

The place of community participation in developmental process has been a subject of discourse

for many decades around the world, and it has been recognized as a key factor in any successful

development initiative (Edeh, 2022). For instance, international organizations such as the United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, African Development Bank

amongst other have embraced the importance of community participation in development, and as

such has been able to develop guidelines as well as practices geared towards enhancing it. The

emergent of the term participatory development in 1970s further stressed the need to move away

from the conventional approach of development to a more integrative approach to development.

It is not surprising why Onyishi (2011) in aligning with the recommendation by the United

Nations Economic and Social Council on the need for popular participation in developmental

process emphasized the need for basic policy measures in national development strategy to

encourage the widest possible active participation of all individuals, government and non-

government organizations (NGOs) like trade unions, youth and women’s base organizations,

cooperatives, age-grade in the planning and implementation of national development blueprints.

Sequel to the above, it should be noted that the idea of community participation is increasing

been integrated into the development strategies and policies of countries around the world

including Ghana. Within the context of rural development, the benefits inherent in community

participation in the sustenance of rural development can never be overlooked. It is not only
cardinal in building relationship and trust between local communities and development partners,

but also in enhancing effective communication and information sharing; thereby recognizing and

respecting local knowledge and expertise. Community participation in rural development equally

ensures that developmental initiatives are cultural appreciated and responsive to the need of the

local populace. That is to say, it increases the chances for the sustainability of development

projects as most communities conceive themselves as joint partners in development process. As a

result, the local people are more like to take ownership of initiatives that they have helped to

design and implement. Thus, this gives them voice in decisions that affect their lives.

Notwithstanding, the decentralization concept in Ghana was initiated to promote popular

grassroots participation in the administration of the planning, implementation, monitoring and

delivering of services to improve the living conditions of the rural poor (Ahenkan et al., 2013).

Article 35(6)d of Ghana’s 1992 constitution explain that the state must make democracy a reality

through decentralization to offer greater opportunities for mass citizen participation at all levels

of local decision-making. The key reason for the decentralization process was therefore the

desire to increase citizen’s participation in local governance. According to Ahenkan et el., (2013)

it was a deliberate effort by the government to eradicate the economic, social, cultural, and

political challenges that contribute to poverty in the country.

According to local governance Act, 2016, Act 936, the new decentralized development planning

system in Ghana made Districts the main focus of planning action through a participatory

approach. This process provides greater opportunity for the local communities within the

districts to participate effectively in the conception, planning, and implementation of

development programmes and projects. The purpose of community participation in the

implementation and sustainability of rural development projects is to influence decisions and

and implemented in Winneba, there is the need to conduct a thorough study to ascertain whether

the processes in the initiation and implementation give opportunities to the community members

to participate.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Community Participation is crucial for the sustenance of rural development in any clime. Rural

development involves improving the economic, social and environmental well- being of people

living in the rural areas. However, the indifferent attitude by government have led to the

widening gap between rural and urban areas. This is reflected in some social and economic

indicators of most rural areas which include: being an epicenter of diseases and poverty, gender

discrimination, paucity of basic infrastructure, health care facilities, educational facilities, and

access to clean environment (Elom and Ngaji, 2011; Food and Agricultural Organization, 2013).

This disparity has stimulated series of debate among scholars and practitioners of local

government on the increasing roles of government and other development actors in development

process. To resolve the despicable state of the rural areas, it is becoming relevant to involve

communities in the planning and implementation of development programmes through

community participation. It not only helps in identifying local needs and priorities of the rural

areas but also, in developing strategies for addressing them in an effective and sustainable

matter.

Community participation in local decision-making as envisaged in the Ghana local governance

Act, 2016, Act 936 promotes accountability as a precondition for good governance. Increased

accountability and transparency in making community decisions regarding the collection and use
of council finances is of paramount importance to ensure good governance at the community

level. Accountability here is defined in terms of community members being informed by their

local leaders about actions taken on their behalf. When community members are informed, it is

assumed they would be able to take corrective measures.

Despite the long-lived intention by the government to enhance participation in many parts of

Ghana, community participation in rural development is inadequate. There is also no clear role

and responsibility of the community in other levels of project cycle after project identification.

Therefore, with the already documented empirical evidence of beneficiary community

participation in development, there are numerous benefits of community participation in rural

development. However, there is not much documented knowledge on factors that influence

community members to participate in the community driven development approach in Winneba,

a gap that informed the problem statement and necessitated need for this study.

1.3 Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that influence community participation in

rural development in selected communities in Winneba.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

1. To investigate the extent of community participation in rural development projects in the

selected communities in Winneba.

2. To explore the factors that influence community participation in rural development

projects in the selected communities in Winneba.

3. To investigate the role of community participation in rural development in Winneba.

1. What is the extent of community participation in the rural development projects in

Winneba?

2. What are the factors that influences community participation in the rural development

projects in Winneba?

3. What are the roles of community participation in the rural development projects in

Winneba?

1.6 Significance of the study

This study's findings are of great importance to policy makers, development practitioners,

community leaders, scholars and development experts as well as Communities faced with

community participation challenges in the quest for high quality community development

projects. Firstly, although community involvement literature proliferates, there is a recurring

criticism that it lacks academically proven empirical support, especially from rural communities

of the third world; this weakens its validity. Secondly, there is limited research on the topic of

community participation and rural development projects in Winneba which without doubt,

weakens the good stories of community participation. Thus, this study adds to the body of

knowledge on community participation by the local people in rural development in Ghana and

the rest of the world. The findings of this research, acting as reference material, as well as any

emerging gaps, can be used by other researchers to expound on areas not yet addressed in

community participation in rural development. Similar studies may then be replicated in other

geographical regions or at some other point in time, as confirmatory studies.

1.7. Delimitation of the study

rural development projects in Winneba. The study was limited to two communities in Winneba.

The study focused on recently completed development projects in the selected communities in

Winneba. The extent of community participation in the rural development projects, the factors

that hinder or facilitate community participation in the rural development projects as well as the

impacts of community participation in the rural development projects were explored by this

study.

1.8 Organization of the study

The study is organized into five chapters. The first chapter focused on the background of the

study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research objectives, research questions,

significance of the study and the delimitation of the study. Chapter two dealt with the literature

review; Chapter three covered the research methodology; Chapter four presented the data

analysis and discussed the findings: Finally, chapter five focused on the summary of findings,

conclusions, recommendations as well as major suggestions for further research.

REFERENCES

Abdullahi, G (2018). Social infrastructure and community participation in rural area of Katsina

state. International Journal of Innovative Social Sciences and Humanities Research

6(1):64-71.

Aguene, I.N. (2022). Community participation in sustainable rural development. International

Journal of Development and Economic Sustainability, vol. 10(5):62-75.

financial management in Ghana: A stakeholder analysis of the sefwi wiawso municipal

assembly.

Bamburger, M (1988) “The Role of Community Participation in Development Planning and

Project Management”, Washington: World Bank.

Barasa, F and Jelagat, T (2013). “Community Participation in Project Planning, Management and

Implementation: Building the foundation for sustainable development” International

Journal of current Research, 5(02): 398-401.

Burns, D et al., (2004). “Making community participation meaningful, A Handbook for

Development and Assessment”, UK: The Policy Press.

Edeh, M.I. (2022). Non-Governmental Organization and the Socio-Economic Development of

Enugu State, Nigeria. UNN Master’s Thesis.

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2013). Gender: Equalitarian Attitudes for Sustainable.

Conference.

Ghana Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), Printed by Ghana Publishing Corporation

(Assembly Press) Accra-Ghana.

Miruka, S (2016). Factors influencing community participation in rural water supply projects.

University of Nairobi.

Onyishi, T (2011). Key issues in Local Government and Development: A Nigerian Perspective.

Enugu: Praise House Publisher.

Ostergaard, Tom Dahl et al., (2003) “Community-Driven Rural Development, What have we

learned? Washington, D.C: Inter-American Development Bank.

Paper, New York, NY: WB.

Rebecca, W (2015). Factors which promote community participation in the community driven

approach. Scholar Publications.

Samah, A and Aref, F. (2009). “People’s participation in community development: A case study

in a planned village settlement in Malaysia” World Bank Rural Observations 2009: 1(2):

45-54.

Stella w, C. (2024). Community empowerment. Retrieved from

http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/1195/154640.