Decentralized forest governance and community representation outcomes: analysis of the modified taungya system in Ghana

The paper examines the community representation outcomes of the modified taungya system (MTS) as a decentralized forest management intervention. It addresses how reforms in the name of decentralized forest governance and community participation have reinforced or weakened democratic representation in Ghana. Following both quantitative and qualitative techniques with in-depth interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions as data collection techniques and a sample size of 200 respondents from four forest-dependent communities, the paper presents the type of community representation understood as responsive and downwardly accountable leadership resulting from decentralization and recognition of local authorities under the MTS forest management intervention. It is highlighted that the establishment of the modified taungya groups (MOTAGs) creates the requisite democratic space for community representation of privileged members of MOTAGs in forest governance in the communities studied. However, failure of the Forest Commission (FC) acting as intervening agent, to transfer adequate decision-making power and resources, disregard for policy and implementation guidelines and the dearth of arable lands for local people’s livelihood security, collectively undermine the local authorities’ capacity to be responsive and downwardly accountable which contribute to disgruntled representation of the local people in forest management. Thus, this paper shows how democratic representation has been subverted as a result of inadequate power and resources transferred to local authorities expected to provide appropriate representation for the local people under the MTS forest management intervention. In a much broader sense, the results show that decentralization does not always guarantee the production of democratic representation within the local arena, especially where authority and capacity of local institutions and representatives to deliver responsive and downwardly accountable local governance are inadequate.