The Effects of Politics on the Implementation of Government Programs/Projects

Insights from a Developing Economy

Bibliographic Data

ID5836751
AuthorsCynthia Akwei (0000-0002-0304-0425, Liverpool John Moores University, corresponding author), Isaac Sakyi Damoah (0000-0001-5460-916X, Bournemouth University), Joseph Amankwah-Amoah (0000-0003-0383-5831, University of Kent)
Year2020
Volume48
Issue6
Pages1161-1201
Publication date2020-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitics & Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1555-5623 • E-ISSN: 1747-1346
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/polp.12384
OpenAlexW3111407475
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited75

Over the years, Ghanaian governments have invested huge sums of money in programs and projects for socioeconomic development to improve their citizens' well-being. However, the implementation of most of these programs and projects have failed and been abandoned. There is a lack of research addressing this issue and the specific causal mechanism through which politics and culture shapes these failed implementations and program abandonments. Partisan politics-which demonstrates strong favoritism toward one's preferred political party, adherence to party policies, and reluctance to compromise with political opponents-provides an appropriate framework to clarify the role of politics in programs and projects ineffective implementation and abandonment debates. Drawing on political theory and the partisan politics literature, this study explores the role partisan politics plays in the implementation failure and abandonment of government programs and projects in Ghana. Our analysis reveals three causal factors: political culture, political corruption, and poor planning and implementation, which are shaped by partisan politics in the Ghanaian context. This impacts negatively on the unity and socioeconomic development of the country . Related Articles Debrah, Emmanuel. 2016. "Decentralization, District Chief Executives, and District Assemblies in Ghana's Fourth Republic." Politics & Policy 44 (1): 135-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12146 Kim, Eun Kyung. 2019. "Issue Ownership and Strategic Policy Choice in Multiparty Africa." Politics & Policy 47 (5): 956-983. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12327 Mohammed, Abdulai Kuyini. 2013. "Civic Engagement in Public Policy Making: Fad or Reality in Ghana?" Politics & Policy 41 (1): 117-152. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12003

Abandonment (legal · Compromise · Language change · Community Development and Social Impact · Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth · Public-Private Partnership Projects

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access