This document summarizes the findings of surveys conducted on the progress of devolution in Ghana's agricultural sector. Key findings include: 1) District Directors of Agriculture report receiving less funding for goods and services as budgets are now determined by elected municipal and district assemblies who prioritize visible infrastructure projects over agriculture. 2) Directors feel greater responsibility but less autonomy as personnel decisions are made by assemblies while still being expected to fulfill Ministry of Food and Agriculture goals. 3) Most directors feel engaged with their work and colleagues, though isolated from other departments due to budget competition. 4) Household surveys found most perceive agricultural services have not declined since devolution, though some report improvements and others worsening.

1. How is devolution progressing in
Ghana’s agricultural sector?
Danielle Resnick
Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
September 26, 2017
LABADI BEACH HOTEL, ACCRA, GHANA

2. Less Money, More Politics
• Decreased funds for goods & services, with 73% claiming
they now personally fund more field visits to farmers
• Majority believe composite budgeting has decreased the
level and timeliness of disbursements (53% and 60%,
respectively)
• Political incentives by elected MMDA members to show
“visible” goods disadvantages DDAs in budgeting decisions
o “During composite budget preparation, much attention is given to physical
projects – politicians are interested in school blocks, CHIPS compounds, things
that are physical. Agriculture isn’t tangible.” - DCD, Central Region
80 Districts for DDA Surveys

3. Less Autonomy, More Responsibility
MoFEP - Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning
MoFA - Ministry of Food & Agriculture
NDPC - National Development Planning
Commission
MLGRD - Ministry of Local Government & Rural
Development
RADUs - Regional Agriculture Development Units
MMDAs - Metropolitan, Municipal, District
Assemblies
LGS - Local Government Services
Red font - surveyed
Bold font - interviewed

4. Greater Motivation and Engagement
• Many welcome Local Government Services Secretariat and access to local government
training
• “There is now sanity in the promotion system”
• “Promotions are regular when you are due and that is a motivation”
• Many (53%) view their mandate as fulfilling MoFA goals
• A plurality view that they are wearing “both hats” as MoFA and MMDA employees
Options Percent who Agree (%)
I feel more like an employee of the District Assembly than of MoFA 23.8
I feel more like an employee of MoFA than of the District Assembly 32.5
I equally feel like an employee of MoFA and of the District Assembly 43.8
Total 100.0
Source: IFPRI-CDD Ghana DDA Survey, N= 80 DDAs

5. Greater Motivation and Engagement
• Majority are integrating well with their MMDA colleagues
Source: IFPRI-CDD Ghana DDA Survey, N= 80 DDAs
70%
22.5%
6.3%
Collegial: we are seen as integral to the
district’s development and engage regularly
with other departments
Isolated: there is minimal engagement with
us except during budgeting and planning
periods
Contentious: we are often fighting with
other departments for resources for
agriculture

6. No Strong Perceptions of Service Decline
Household perceptions of how agricultural/livestock goods and
services were affected by devolution since 2012
Source: IFPRI-CDD Ghana Decentralization and Agricultural Service Survey
Notes: N = 755 (inclusive of those who are farmers by occupation, plant crops, or rear livestock)
19.2%
54.2%
11.1%
15.5%
Improved No change Worsened Don't know

7. Conclusions
• Functional responsibilities and personnel decisions are gradually moving
towards elected MMDAs
• Elected leaders do have influence over policy priorities and responding to
perceived citizen priorities ---the ultimate goal!
• Yet, without greater fiscal autonomy, funding for agricultural goods and
services appears marginalized
• The reduced influence of MoFA in advocating for resources for
implementation by DDAs exacerbates this dilemma

8. Sources and Next Steps
• IFPRI-CDD District Director of Agriculture Devolution of Agriculture
Survey
• IFPRI-CDD Ghana Decentralization and Agricultural Service Household
Survey
• Analysis of composite budgets for agriculture for most districts from
2011-2017
• Draft report in November 2017 on “The Devolution Revolution:
Implications for Agricultural Service Delivery in Ghana”