The Impact of Stakeholder Engagement on Political Project Development in the Mion District of the Northern Region, Ghana.

Abstract

Stakeholder engagement is widely advocated as a critical component of successful project development. However, its specific impacts on the performance of political projects, particularly in decentralised governance contexts of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), remain underexplored (Miller et al., 2020; Sachs & Kujala, 2021). This study assessed the impact of stakeholder engagement on the development and performance of political projects in the Mion District of Ghana’s Northern Region. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. A sample of 390 household heads, selected via systematic random sampling, along with key informants from donor agencies, implementing bodies, and Project Implementation Committees (PICs), provided data through questionnaires and interviews. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis (Yamane, 1967; Ruslin et al., 2022).

Stakeholder engagement during project initiation and implementation phases positively influenced project performance, enhancing acceptability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Conversely, engagement during the planning phase was negatively correlated with performance, potentially due to technical complexity. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) engagement showed a weak positive influence. Key barriers to effective engagement included a lack of stakeholder skills, illiteracy, and rigid organisational policies. The study concludes that while stakeholder engagement is beneficial, its impact varies significantly across different phases of the project cycle. A phased, capacity-sensitive approach to engagement is recommended to optimise the performance of political projects in similar LMIC contexts.