Social Accountability And The Implementation Of Social Protection Policies In Ghana.

ABSTRACT Accountability is an essential feature of good governance. Social Accountability has been advocated to enhance the sustainability of social protection programmes. This study sought to examine the effectiveness of social accountability mechanisms in the implementation of social protection programmes in the Shai-Osudoku District Assembly, Ghana. The study employed a qualitative data collection and handling technique based on a case study through the lens of an interpretive research paradigm. The study was driven by the rights-based approach to social protection. The World Bank’s (2002) framework for assessing the level of participation in policy making was also adopted to assess beneficiary participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation stages of the programmes. Interviews and FGDs were the main source of primary data. Eighty-six (86) respondents were sampled for the study, sixty (60) for LEAP and twenty-six (26) for GSOP. The study documented a high level of citizens’ participation in the GSOP programme but, a low level of citizens’ participation in the LEAP programme. Enforcement of the tenets of social accountability was very effective in the GSOP programme as compared to the LEAP programme. The use of the transparency and accountability boards (TABs) in the operations of GSOP ensures answerability. Inadequate logistics continue to hamper the operations of both programmes at the district assembly level. The study concludes that Rights-Based Approach (RBA) to social protection provides the respite for the attainment of effective social accountability. When beneficiary rights are respected and they are given enough power to play an active role in the decision making process, greater levels of efficiency and effectiveness is ensured in the implementation of social protection programmes leading to empowerment of citizens, improved governance and development effectiveness.