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Marriage of the Unwilling? The Paradox of Local Government and NGO Relations in Ghana

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Abstract

The extant literature on the relations between government and NGOs is limited in two respects—dominant focus on relations between central government and NGOs and a limited discussion of typologies of relations in countries in Africa. This study seeks to make a modest contribution to addressing these limitations by studying the relations between local government and NGOs in Ghana. This paper proposes a four-dimensional framework for analysing the relations between local government and NGOs in Ghana. It reports that the relations are varied, complex and multi-dimensional and characterised by superficial and suspicious cordiality; tokenistic and cosmetic collaboration; friendly-foe relation; and convenient and cautious partnerships.

Résumé

La littérature existante sur les relations entre les gouvernements et les ONG est limitée à deux égards: par un thème dominant sur les relations entre les gouvernements centraux et les ONG, et par une discussion limitée sur les typologies des relations dans les pays d’Afrique. Cette étude vise à apporter une modeste contribution pour résoudre ces limites en étudiant les relations entre les collectivités locales et les ONG au Ghana. Ce document propose un cadre à quatre dimensions pour analyser les relations entre les collectivités locales et les ONG au Ghana. Il fait état que les relations sont variées, complexes, multidimensionnelles et caractérisées par une cordialité superficielle et suspecte, une collaboration symbolique et esthétique, une relation d’ami et d’ennemi et des partenariats pratiques et prudents.

Zusammenfassung

Die bestehende Literatur zu den Beziehungen zwischen Regierung und nicht-staatlichen Organisationen ist in zweierlei Hinsicht beschränkt: man konzentriert sich hauptsächlich auf Beziehungen zwischen Zentralregierungen und nicht-staatlichen Organisationen, und es gibt nur beschränkt Diskussionen über die Typologien der Beziehungen in afrikanischen Ländern. Die vorliegende Studie möchte einen bescheidenen Beitrag leisten, um auf diese Einschränkungen einzugehen, indem die Beziehungen zwischen den Lokalregierungen und den nicht-staatlichen Organisationen in Ghana untersucht werden. Der Beitrag schlägt einen vierdimensionalen Rahmen zur Analyse der Beziehungen zwischen den Lokalregierungen und den nicht-staatlichen Organisationen in Ghana vor. Die Studie zeigt, dass die Beziehungen unterschiedlich, komplex und multi-dimensional sind und sich durch eine oberflächliche und suspekte Freundlichkeit und eine vorgetäuschte und kosmetische Zusammenarbeit auszeichnen. Sie verkörpern das Sinnbild einer freundlichen Feindschaft und stellen zweckdienliche und verhaltene Partnerschaften dar.

Resumen

El material publicado existente sobre las relaciones entre el gobierno y las ONG es limitado en dos aspectos: un foco de atención dominante sobre las relaciones entre el gobierno central y las ONG y un debate limitado de tipologías de relaciones en países de África. El presente estudio trata de hacer una contribución modesta abordando estas limitaciones mediante el estudio de las relaciones entre el gobierno local y las ONG en Ghana. El presente documento propone un marco cuatridimensional para analizar las relaciones entre el gobierno local y las ONG en Ghana. Señala que las relaciones son variadas, complejas y multidimensionales y que se caracterizan por una cordialidad superficial y sospechosa; una colaboración simbólica y somera; una relación amigo-enemigo y asociaciones prácticas y cautas.

摘要

目前对政府部门和非政府组织的研究仅限于两个方面-主要集中于中央政府和非政府组织的关系,以及对非洲国家中的关系类型学的有限讨论。本研究试图通过研究加纳地方政府和非政府组织间的关系来定位这些局限性。本文提出了一种用于分析加纳地方政府和非盈利组织之间关系的四维框架。结果显示,这些关系具有多样性,复杂性和多维性,其特征表现为肤浅的、可以的真诚;象征性的、美化了的合作;亦敌亦友的关系和实用又小心的伙伴关系。

ملخص

الأدب الموجود على العلاقات بين الحكومة والمنظمات الغير حكومية (NGOs) يقتصر في ناحيتين - التركيز المهيمن على العلاقات بين الحكومة المركزية والمنظمات الغير حكومية (NGOs) ومناقشة محدودة من أنماط العلاقات في بلدان في أفريقيا. تسعى هذه الدراسة إلى تقديم مساهمة متواضعة لمعالجة هذه القيود من خلال دراسة العلاقات بين الحكومة المحلية والمنظمات الغير حكومية (NGOs) في غانا. يقترح هذا البحث إطار رباعي الأبعاد لتحليل العلاقات بين الحكومة المحلية والمنظمات الغير حكومية (NGOs)في غانا. إنه يعلن أن العلاقات متنوعة ٬معقدة ٬متعددة الأبعاد وتتميز بمودة سطحية ومشبوهة؛ تعاون رمزي وتجميلي. علاقة صداقة - عدو. وشراكات مريحة وحذرة.

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Notes

  1. In Ghana local government is classified into metropolitan (population in excess of 250,000), municipal (population in excess of 95,000) and district (population in excess of 75,000) assemblies.

  2. See footnote 1.

  3. The department of social welfare classifies NGOs into four categories—community-based NGO, national NGO, national NGO with international affiliates and international NGO operating locally.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana Business School, P. O. Box LG 78, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Justice Nyigmah Bawole

  2. Institute for Development Policy and Management, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK

    Farhad Hossain

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Bawole, J.N., Hossain, F. Marriage of the Unwilling? The Paradox of Local Government and NGO Relations in Ghana. Voluntas 26, 2061–2083 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-014-9503-9

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