Influence of Leadership Approaches on Participation and Performance in the Decentralised Local Government System in the Central Region of Ghana

Leadership plays a critical role in enhancing participation and performance of local governments (LGs) in pursuing the virtues of decentralisation. However, leadership approaches regarding the behaviour, qualities and interrelationships between leaders and followers in LGs appear to focus on the delivery of results with less attention to eliciting participation and performance of the followers. The paper examined how the leadership approaches have influenced participation and performance of LGs in the Central Region of Ghana. The study used the descriptive survey design and mixed-methods. Multi-stage, purposive and stratified sampling procedures were used to select a sample of 989 respondents from three local government areas: Cape Coast Metropolis (CCM), Effutu Municipality and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa (AOB) District. Data were collected between 2010 and 2011 from regional, district and community actors using interview schedules and interview guides. Descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that the leadership approaches influenced participation but did not influence performance. Second, the leadership approaches of the Assembly members enabled the followers to feel enthusiastic and take responsibility but did not engender sustainability of development interventions. We recommend that leadership behaviour, participation, communication and information flow should be improved at all levels of LGs; knowledge and skills of leaders and followers needs enhancement; political interference and politicisation of issues should be avoided; and adequate resources provided for the various structures. Also, the Assembly members should streng thenthelinks with theire lectorate. Further more, the Assemblies should make the Sub- district structures functional.