An Impact Evaluation of the District Assembly Common Fund in the Suaman Dadieso District in the Western Region of Ghana

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the impacts of the districts assembly common fund in the Suaman Dadieso District in the Western Region of Ghana. A mixed method approach employing the simple random sampling procedure was used to select eighty (80) participants for the study. The participants were recruited from two communities within the District- thus Dadieso and Karlo. The leaders of the Youth for Suaman Development were also interviewed. The data was collected between the months of May 2016 and June 2016.  The outcome of the evaluation indicates that community members are not contacted when the Assembly seeks to embark on developmental projects with District Assembly Common Fund since decisions are taking from the top-down approach instead of the bottom-up model that encourages community member participation. The outcome of the study also showed that most community members have not benefited much from the District Assembly Common Fund regarding poverty alleviation, health and education as poverty continues to persist in the district. The results of the study show that the district has not lived up to expectations of the community members since its creation in 2012.  It is therefore imperative for the District take important steps in developing areas where it failed and work towards achieving the set goals in subsequent years.

Keywords: District Assembly, Common Fund, Local Government