Slum Dwellers’ Particpation in the Governance of Slum within the Ashaiman Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Slums are being created in many developing world cities as a result of rapid urbanisation, poor infrastructure, and inadequate facilities to accommodate the growing urban population. This study investigated the participation of slum dwellers in the governance of slums in two communities within the Ashaiman Municipality of Ghana. Using a systematic random sample technique, 390 slum inhabitants provided cross-sectional data. In the Ashaiman settlements of Tulaku and Manmomo, key informant interviews were also carried out with a selected core officials of the municipality, community leaders and civil society organisations. Atlas ti 9 was used to analyse the themes in the data, and STATA 14.0 was used to generate descriptive statistics. The investigation produced the following results: first, the majority of slum inhabitants in the study area were involved in the local governance system. Second, slum residents' involvement in the decentralised local governance structure was influenced by their educational attainment, length of residence, and intention to remain in the community. Third, important players in the local governance structure included assembly members, unit committee members, opinion leaders, and slumpreneurs. Fourth, most of the inhabitants largely participated in activities related to cleanliness and sanitation. The municipal assembly should implement programmes to enhance participation in local governance amongst the slum dwellers. The central government through the local government authority should also facilitate the provision of essential public infrastructural facilities such as drains, paved roads and educational facilities in the study areas.