Ambiguities of forest management decentralization in ghana

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article examines the outcomes of forest management decentralization in Ghana. It has been demonstrated that despite claims that Ghana has adopted forest management decentralization policy, actual forest management powers and rights over forest resources are still retained by the central government. The government is only interested in using the decentralization policy to reduce expenditure and extend its control over forest resources. Nevertheless, it has employed policy ambiguities to hide its true intentions from international donors. In order to contain international donor demands for equity in the distribution of natural resource revenue, a small stream of forest revenue is paid to a few unelected traditional rulers and district assembly officials, who are actually within the executive's patronage networks. In the absence of any meaningful reward system and secure rights over forest resources, community forestry committees are not functioning properly.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)355-369
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Natural Resources Policy Research
Volume3
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ambiguities of forest management decentralization in ghana'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this