A Post-Mortem of the Progress and Problems of Achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Ghana: Perspectives of the Ada East Local Government Managers

Abstract

This paper examined progress toward the achievements of the MDGs in the Dangme East District administration in Ghana with focus on reducing poverty, primary education, infant and maternal mortality, sanitation and safe drinking water and environmental sustainability. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth key informant interviews (IDIs) with purposively selected individuals from the district administration, district officials of the education and health administrations and community/opinion leaders in the Dangme East District administration. The key factors facilitating the attainment of the MDG 1 included the resource endowment of the district and the aggressive pro-poor social interventions launched by the central government and the assembly. Factors identified as hindering the attainment of MDG 1 is high rate of illiteracy. The number of school going children in attendance in primary schools (MDG2) has seen an improvement compared to the past records. Central government interventions have facilitated a significant reduction in infant and maternal mortality in the district hence the progress towards the MDGs 4 and 5; with a significant decrease in infant and maternal mortality from 1,282 in 2006 to 97 in 2012. Significant progress has also been made with the provision of sanitation and safe drinking water; however, progress has been very slow due to attitudinal and behavioural problems. In conclusion, the situation of poverty (MDG1) is improving. The MDG2 have seen tremendous improvement. The gains made in regard to MDGs 4 and 5 within the district were as well encouraging, whereas increase access to sanitation and safe drinking water (MDG7) has been very slow due to bad attitude and behaviour of the citizenry. The study recommended an increase in public awareness about the MDGs and increase government interventions throughout the district.

Keywords: MDGs, Ghana, local government, Ada East District administration