Mobilization of human resources for development: a Case Study of Mpohor Wassa East District Ghana

Most Districts in Ghana, just like in many other countries, are richly endowed with numerous resources. Effective utilization of these resources to enhance sustainable development is what seems to be somehow lacking. Thus, a fresh impetus on mobilization of human resources to enable effective utilization of other resources is seen as a panacea in bringing about meaningful development in the districts. The attitude towards development activities held by members of the society and their resultant work habits, are usually reactions to their environment and how they are treated by development administrators rather than a result of intrinsic personality characteristics. The problem, however, is the lack of such a clear understanding of the nature of human behaviour and appropriate ways of mobilizing the people to work towards development of their entire community. The objectives of the study were threefold. First, to analyse the current efforts being made to engage the population in development activities (both private and community) in Mpohor Wassa East District; second, to analyse the factors inhibiting and those promoting people’s effective role in development undertakings; and third, to offer suggestions on measures deemed appropriate to further activate people’s rule in bringing about persistent and meaningful development in the district. Data collected from documentary sources, field surveys, personal interviews and discussions with leaders of organs responsible for human resources mobilization were analysed using the following criteria: i)People’s roles, development activities, nature of their behaviour and correspondingly, their responsiveness to each other in the development process. ii) Arnstein’s Eight Rungs of Community Participation; and iii) Assessment of the existing structures and mechanisms for human resource mobilization and their effects on the development of the community. The study revealed that though not stagnant, the present level of development in the district has not reached a stage to make the environment conducive enough for people’s dynamic thinking hence, limiting their’ individual development activities mainly to farming and community development activities of social infrastructure type. The institutional mobilization efforts were also seen to concentrate mainly on community development activities whereas people’s private development activities are left to grow spontaneously. To rectify the situation, it is recommended that mobilization of human resources should be taken as an integral activity to bring about change - change in both the behaviour and practice of the people. Avenues should be created and supplemented with support to enable the people achieve what the society desires. Finally, it is argued that for mobilization of human resources to be an effective tool of the development process, it has to set in motion a cumulative process of employment generation. Thus, attention need not only to be paid on community development projects but also direct productive, income generating activities or projects in order to make development more meaningful.

Source: KNUST