An Analysis of Public Participation in Policymaking Processes

Public participation is the linchpin of democratic governance in any society. It is a virtue that is seen as a civic duty, a sign of healthy democratic governance, and the best way of ensuring that the interests of men and women, the vulnerable, and all and sundry in society are not neglected. A political system that claims to represent the interests of the people must give opportunities to citizens to access and provide input in the decision-making process to give meaning to democratic governance. However, there is growing concern among development partners, practitioners, and scholars that public participation in policymaking processes is limited and weak and the implications for democratic governance and development are enormous. The declining trust in the democratic process by citizens has necessitated the opening of the political space by governments to allow citizens’ input to reflect their binding needs and concerns in the policymaking process. Therefore, the extent to which the public is involved in the policymaking processes is a critical focus of this chapter. The chapter explores the various levels of public participation in public processes and assess the extent to which public participation contributed to agenda setting and the entire policymaking process in Ghana while drawing comparative lessons from other African countries. In doing so, it engages the assumptions that foreground the process and assesses practical cases of public participation in policy processes.