Building the Administrative Capacity of District Assemblies in Ghana: Examining the Role of Staff Postings

ABSTRACT
The study examined the role of staff postings as a tool for strengthening the administrative
capacity of the District Assemblies in Ghana. The theory adopted for the interpretation of
the findings was the theory of institutional integrity where the effectiveness of an
institution is measured by its level of integrity or corruption. The methodological
approaches used for the study were both qualitative and quantitative. Hence in-depth
interviews and survey questionnaires were administered to solicit information from
officials within the Local Government Service. 
 
The study found out that the establishment of the Local Government Service has helped to
improve the administrative capacity of the District Assemblies in Ghana. Also, contrary to
the widespread notion and various allegations that politics play a key role in the posting of
Local Government Officials and that Officers do not accept postings to less resourced
areas, it is largely not so in practice. The study found out that politics does not play any
significant role in postings at the grassroots level but perhaps it is felt at the top
management level and has not eaten deep to the lower management level. Furthermore,
most Officials in the Local Government Service asserted that they will accept postings to
less resourced areas. 
 
The study concluded by affirming that there is a high level of institutional integrity in
terms of staff posting and the level of institutional corruption is very minimal. Therefore,
the level of confidence that the employees have in the system is quite high. However, lack
of a comprehensive database of employees and non-payment of the benefits that comes
with staff posting is still a challenge in the Local Government Service.