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Challenging formal accountability processes in community natural resource management in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Abstract

Africa is endowed with vast natural resources. It is equally labelled a cursed continent due to a plethora of conflicts emanating from the use and sharing of gains from these natural resources. For the past decades, accountability has been thought of as an anecdote to natural resources conflicts. However, these challenges have persisted across the Sub-Saharan African region. Using Ghana and South African communities, the study revisits the relationship between accountability of natural resources and community development with the aim to strengthen accountability processes in Africa. The paper revealed that accountability in natural resources management should extend beyond reports and opinions of the technocrats, bureaucrats, experts and political elites. We argue that accountability should be participatory, inclusive, and embody elements of trust and social justices. It therefore proposes the adoption of negotiated accountability, to strengthen the governance of natural resources in Africa. Negotiated accountability should holistically address four main accountability elements: the normative, relational, decisional and behavioural element.

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Fig. 1

Source: Geography Department, University of Ghana, Legon 2015

Fig. 2

Source: Fieldwork, 1st Author, 2018

Fig. 3

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Notes

  1. Each year, the United Nations Development Programme publishes its HDI, ranking all the world's countries according to life quality of its inhabitants. Major parameters include global access to education and health services, longevity and equal income opportunities.

  2. Interview, CDD-Ghana, July 2014 (devil in the detail means it is in the details that we can identify the winners and losers in how the resources are utilized).

  3. Interview, Community leader in Dixcove, Ghana, November 2014.

  4. Interview, GNPC, July 2014, Accra.

  5. Interview, ISODEC, July 2014, Accra.

  6. Interview and Focus group discussion, fisher-fox, November 2014, Dixcove.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Tourism, School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Bunting Road Campus, PO Box 524, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa

    Regis Musavengane

  2. University of Ghana, Institute of African Studies, Legon, Ghana

    Pius Siakwah

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  1. Regis Musavengane
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  2. Pius Siakwah
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Correspondence to Regis Musavengane.

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Musavengane, R., Siakwah, P. Challenging formal accountability processes in community natural resource management in Sub-Saharan Africa. GeoJournal 85, 1573–1590 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-019-10040-2

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