POLICY TERMINATION
One of the main reasons for undertaking policy evaluation in the first place is to determine the difference between goals and objectives and the subsequent impact that a given policy as implemented as achieved and then to do something about it.
There are 3 options usually available to the policy maker after evaluation:
a. To maintain the status quo if the policy is working as planned.
b. Make adjustment to the policy. In other words make changes.
c. The most drastic and rare change of all is to terminate the program or repel the policy
When a policy is replaced or modified in some respect or repelled in parts then policy change has occurred.
Policies are rarely maintained exactly as adopted, change inevitably starts to occur as soon as a policy is implemented because of the intrinsic ambiguity of legislation.
Thus, policies are constantly evolving and the policy cycle is an ongoing dynamic process.
It is important to note that policy change does not occur in a vacuum.
Proposed changes will essentially go through some variations of the preceding 6 stages of the policy process.
FACTORS NECESSITATING POLICY CHANGE
1. Changes in societal dynamics
2. New policies may contradict or invalidate an existing policy.
3. The legality or constitutionality of a policy is challenged
4. Technological changes alter the feasibility or relevance
5. New discoveries or regulations alter support.
6. Economic and political condition change
7. Power shifts due to election results.
8. When the problem is solved
9. Implementing agencies may lack the skill to manage the policy.
10. Once implemented policy defects become apparent.
11. Target groups refuse to comply with or mobilize against the policy.
REASONS FOR POLICY TERMINATION
1. When the policy is no longer effective.
2. The need for the program no longer exists.
3. Budgetary requirements force the end of the policy or the program.
4. An evaluation study makes the case that the policy is unsatisfactory in impact or outcome.
5. The political environment may no longer support the goals of the policy.
6. Some policies or programs are terminated purely for ideological reasons.
WHY IS POLICY TERMINATION SO RARE IN GHANA?
1. Organizations desire to survive.
2. The creation of new goals helps to legitimize the organization’s continued existence.
3. Some programs must exist because of current law (public education)
4. It is often cheaper to keep a program going than it is to terminate it.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS FOR PUBLIC POLICY IN GHANA
Ghana has over the years experienced a very unstable political environment which imparted adversely on the development of enduring public policies and programs. It must be noted that no matter how well intended public policies are they do not yield instantaneous results.
Policies have gestation periods and therefore require tremendous political stability to relies their full potentials in order to inure to the advantage of the people.
According to Ebo Hutchford and Armstrong, Policy initiatives and design in Ghana has been controlled either directly or indirectly by politicians and a core of civil servants.
Politicians and civil servants have tended to seek advice from specialized expertise only on the execution of their policy making duties. Lamenting on the domineering role of politicians in the design of the 7yrs development plan of Kwame Nkrumah and other policy initiatives E N Omaboe asserted that “in Ghana the politicians are always ahead of civil servants and the planners in the general consideration and implementation of the social programs.
This has meant that almost all important projects have had to be initiated by the politicians who on many occasions have taken decisions and committed the nation to a certain course of action before the technicians were consulted.”
14-03-11
The fundamental principles of government are enshrined in the constitution and these are collectively called Directive Principles Of State Policy (chapter 6 of the 1992)
These principles according to article 34(1) of the constitution shall guide all citizens, Parliament, the Judiciary, the council of State, the Cabinet, political parties and other bodies and persons in applying or interpreting the constitution or any other law and in taking and implementing policy decisions for the establishment of a just and free society.
The 5 clear objectives to be realized under the directive principles of state policy include:
1. Basic human rights and popular participation
2. A healthy economy
3. The right to work
4. The right to good health care
5. The right to education
The positive rights are not justiciable. To achieve these set of principles, the Government of Ghana is expected to take concrete steps to realize these objectives.
These include:
1. Establishment and strengthening of democratic states based on the ideals of freedom, equity regional and gender balance, justice, probity, accountability, transparency and competence
2. Eradication of corrupt practices and the abuse of power.
3. Institutional building and reform
4. Establishment of a sound and healthy economy with a reduction in the role of the state in the economic life of the country and make the private sector the engine of growth by promoting investor confidence.
5. Decentralization of administrative and financial machinery of government to the regions and districts.
6. Development of value for money public services.
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