Governance & Policy

Ghana has made frantic efforts since gaining independence in 1957 to improve governance and implement social policies aimed at improving the livelihood of its citizens. However, since independence, failed policies and programs, coupled with defective governance systems and structures, have contributed to widening policy gaps and higher poverty levels. Successful governance is typically driven by effective and efficient public administrations (governance institutions) taking ultimate responsibility for the implementation of favorable government policies. Ghana has struggled to formulate, implement, and evaluate policies that are geared towards improving the livelihood of its citizens.

The gap between policy intentions and policy outcomes can be attributed to implementation issues such as improper coordination and the lack of required skills and commitment on the part of implementing agencies. These implementation issues usually create a “policy gap,” which tends to negatively impact the original intent of public policies. Policy gaps between formulation and implementation can be linked to poor governance. Most policies formulated and executed in Ghana have significant policy gaps, which tend to affect the well being of citizens. Since governmental institutions are directly responsible for policy implementation in Ghana, all policy gaps can be attributed to the state of governance in Ghana. More recently, the establishment of the NDPC in Ghana, which is the mandated constitutional governance body charged with the monitoring of policies, has not proved to be useful in the implementation of public policies. The perceived ineffectiveness of these major and other governance institutions has resulted in policy gaps, which diminish the role of governance in improving the lives of the Ghanaian citizenry.

Business Process Design’s in-depth knowledge of the Ghanaian governance and policy circles makes us an ideal company to advise foreign corporate institutions and NGO’s on the nature and scope of governance in Ghana. It is critical for companies to understand the trend in various governance indicators in Ghana including voice and accountability; political stability; rule of law, government effectiveness, control of corruption and the quality of regulations that seek to enhance the development of the private sector. BPDL recognizes the fact it is not only vital for new foreign entrants to economically understand the Ghanaian market but it is imperative for them to understand the socio-political and policy environs within the Ghanaian and West African sub-religion.