UCLG Position Paper v_2 (eng)
22/12/09
18:13
PĂĄgina 46
A Compilation of Case Studies
Analysis
operation yet. More time is needed– to reach the result desired– and this is available; the program comes to an end by 2011. Nevertheless, by now NALAG already has gained further knowledge on waste management practices, fee collection, and revenue raising mechanisms and shares them with other Districts. It is envisioned the results and lessons learned will be disseminated to all Districts Assemblies in Ghana; a role that will be taken up by NALAG.
The harmonization of the GTZ support to the District Database System and the capacity development program for the introduction of a fee collection system met each other by putting time schedules together. The District Database System could profit from the capacity development program because the system was put in practice immediately. The capacity development program gained from the District Database System because structured information could be made available. Although the harmonization of donor efforts went very well, more steps need to be taken before a fee collection system can be operational. As said before, first of all, a waste management plan is needed. Three of the participating Assemblies have Waste Management Plans but the feebased collection systems are not in operation. The challenge is to make waste management sustainable by introducing a fee collection system in the districts to maintain the collection. A good start has been made by designing the basics for the District Database System and by creating awareness of the broader public about the need to pay for the services received. Sensitization trainings have taken place for politicians and local staff of the four districts, though more awareness needs to be raised to cover a larger community, including members of the urban/town councils, unit committees, chiefs and opinion leaders, market women and other stakeholders. These sensitization trainings will focus on the implementation of the District Database System in the coming years.
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As the work progresses it is becoming clear that there are many obstacles to be overcome as it is a new system to Ghana which makes it necessary to provide additional training to the municipalities on the details of the system. But above all the introduction of a fee collection system needs political courage. This needs attention too. Results and lessons learned Three of the participating Assemblies have Waste Management Plans in place. Procedures, checks and balances as well as job descriptions are in place at the local level to make an effective functioning of the waste management and fee collection. Assemblies are also passing by-laws to make it unattractive for people to default in the payment of fees. Street mapping and street naming as a result of this, is taking place. Awareness raising is still in progress, but the fee collection is not in 46