Based on the above considerations, it is evident that it cannot be achieved in a single event or step. Therefore, a stakeholder consultation process is proposed which will precede and feed into a national stakeholder conference to review twenty (20) years of decentralization in Ghana. The national stakeholder conference will be the climax of the process.
It is therefore proposed that
- the stakeholder consultation process be undertaken over a three-month period (September to December, 2009
- the process consists of a series of events, to be provide inputs for the national stakeholder conference and signal strongly the inclusive, participatory nature of the intentions of the Mills Administration. The events and activities are as follows:
- Regional level consultations organized under the auspices of the regional coordinating councils (RCCs) in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) and hosted by the regional ministers which will invite and include the representatives of key, identifiable interest groups
- Concurrent seminars and consultation conferences organized by other parties such as civil society organizations for particular target groups which will accredited/acknowledged by the MLGRD, so long as the Minister is informed and it is clearly indicated that the outputs are intended to contribute to the stakeholder process
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- Concurrent, ongoing process of inviting written submissions (a) during the regional events (b) throughout the period of three months to dedicated electronic and physical addresses
- Concurrent process of reviewing relevant reports/documents/products generated over the two decades including the inputs for the draft decentralization policy framework (2007/2008) and the proposals for reforming local government sub-structures and the conduct of unit committee elections (Electoral Commission/USAID, 2005)
- There is a clear communication strategy to convey the intentions and planned processes to the people of Ghana and involve them as much as possible
- A technical coordination team/mechanism is in place to ensure effective coordination and rapid collation of the outputs in order to expedite processes within the envisaged time-frame
- Clearly identifiable outputs and outcomes from the stakeholder review exercises including
- An issues/paper/master document collating all the key issues as is currently known to be used as a starting point for the regional consultation process
- A consolidated stakeholder review process report with proposals for the acceleration of decentralization
- A revised decentralization policy framework
- A 2nd National Decentralization Action Plan
- Inputs on priorities for the envisaged legislative and constitutional review processes.
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